886 DKABA. [CLASS XV. order i. 



raceme, of numerous flowers, becoming much elongated, Floicers 

 white, on spreading;; slender pedicles. Calyx of four ovate concave 

 equal pieces. Corolla of four ovate obtuse equal petals, with a short 

 claw. Stamens with simple awl-shaped filaments^ having between 

 them at the base eight glands, the yellow anthers of two lobes. Fruit 

 a sub-ovate silicula, with flat compressed valves, smooth, two celled, 

 each cell with a solitary pendulous seed, ovate, compressed, pale brown, 

 with a slight marginal furrow. 



Habitat. — Clifl's by the sea ; Devonshire, Cornwall, and near Aber- 

 deen, in Scotland, 



Perennial ; flowering in August and September. 



This plant, though common on almost all the sea coasts of the Con- 

 tinent, and especially the shores of the Mediterranean, and flowering 

 there in sheltered situations almost all the year round, has but 

 slender claims to the rank of a native plant of our coasts, but seems 

 now to have established itself as a naturalized plant. It is frequently 

 cultivated in gardens, and much esteemed from its continuing along time 

 in flower, and the pleasant odour which it exhales.^- 



GENUS XII. DRA'BA.— Linn, Whitlow Grass. 



Nat. Ord, CRUCiF'ERiE. Juss. 



Gen. Char. Silicula oval or oblong, with plane or sub-convex 

 valves, two celled, many seeded. Seeds not with a margin. Coiy- 

 leclo7is accumbent. — (c Fig. 1, p. 871.) — Calyx equal. Petals 

 entire, or bifid. Filaments simple. — Named ^fa/3»7, acrid or 

 biting, from the acrid properties of some of the species. 

 -;< Petals hifid, while. Erophila, De Cand. Prod. T, p. 172. 

 1, D. ver'na, Linn. (Fig, 1023.) Common Whitloiv Grass. Scape 



* ALYSSUM Linn. 



Gen. Char, — Silicula sub-rotundate, ovate, with plane or convex valves, two 

 celled, two to four seeded. Seeds compressed, sometimes with a mem- 

 branous margin. Cotyledons accumbent. — (c Fig. 1, p. 871.) — Calyx 

 equal. Petals entire. Filaments toothed. 

 1. A. calyci'num, Linn. Stem herbaceous, ascending; calyx persistent; 

 filaments toothed ; silicula orbicular, with a narrow margin, clothed with very 

 short close starry pubescence; style short; leaves lanceolate, hoary. 



Habitat. — Dry sandy fields between Arbroath and sands of Barry, Scotland. 



Dr. Nicholson, 1835. 



Annual ; flowering in May and June. 



Specimens of this plant were sent to us, in 1835, from the above station ; but 

 some doubt remains as to its claim even to be considered a naturalized plant. 

 It is not unfrequent on the Continent, especially in the Southern parts. 



