THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 175 



Order, CruGiferce, A. L. de Juss. 

 Properties. — Notably stimulating and antiscorbutic. 

 Sisymbrium. Tournef. Etym. Name given by tlie ancients to the 



watermint or watercress. Vern., name, Hedge Mustard. 

 S. officinale, Scop. Common Hedge Mustard. Flowers September, 



March. Naturalized. Distributed. Introduced in the United 



States, occurs in Europe, West Asia to the Himalaya, and 



North Africa. 

 Uses. — The herb and the seed were formerly much used as a 

 discutient, diuretic and laxative remedy for hoarseness, in the form 

 of a syrup; public speakers and singers especially procured the drug 

 from France, under the name of " Herbe aux chantres." 

 Lepidium, Tournef. Etym. From the Greek XeiriQ, (lepis), a 



scale, alluding to the pouch-like form of the fruit. Ver. 



name, Pepperwort. 

 L. ruderale, L. Common Pepperwort. Flowers October, April, 



Distributed, temperate parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, introduced 



in America and New Zealand. 

 Gapsella, Medikus. Etym. A diminutive of a Greek and Latin 



word, applied to the form of the fruit, a little capsule or box. 

 G. Bursa Pastoris, D.G. Shepherd's Purse. Flowers nearly all 



the year round. An alien. The petals of this plant tend to be 



transformed into stamens. Distributed temperate and Arctic 



Europe, North Africa, and Asia to the Himalaya, introduced in 



all temperate climates. 

 Uses. — Formerly in repute in Diarrhoea and Dysentery. It may 

 be applied to cuts, and made into a poultice will be found serviceable 

 in erysipelas. It is much liked by small birds. 

 Nasturtium, R.Br. Etym. From nasus tortus, a convulsed nose; 



the acrid and pungent qualities were supposed to produce 



distortion of the face. V. N. Cress. 

 N. terrestre, B,. Br. Sjnonjmons M.Balustre, D.G. Marsh-Cress. 



Flowers December, June. Distributed many countries in the 



temperate and cold zones. 

 Senebiera, D.G. Etym. In memory of I. Senebier, a Genevese 



physiologist. V. N. Wart Cress. 

 S. Didyma, Pers. Synonymous Goronopus Didyma, S.M. 



Senehiera pinnatifida, D.G. Lesser Wart Cress. Flowers 



Sept., April. An Alien. Distributed. Introduced in many 



countries. Considered to be a native of temperate South 



America. 



Order. Violacece, D.G. 

 Properties. — Emetic and laxative, Viola canina and some others 

 have the power of removing cutaneous diseases, and have been 

 employed as cosmetics. 



