CRUCIFER. 213 
SPECIES L—LEPIDIUM LATIFOLIUM. Jin. 
Pratt CLIII.* 
Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ. et Helv. Vol. II. Tetr. Tab. X. Fig. 4219. 
Rootstock thick, branched. Radical leaves not in a rosette, on 
long stalks, oval-oblong; stem leaves lanceolate, sessile, all finely 
toothed or entire. Petals twice as long as the calyx. Stamens 6. 
Pod lenticular, oval-orbicular, very indistinctly notched at the apex, 
slightly downy; valves keeled but not winged; style none. 
In salt marshes and in wet sandy places near the sea. Rather 
rare, and possibly not native in many of the stations recorded for 
it. Essex and Norfolk seem to be the counties in which it has 
most claims to be considered indigenous. In Scotland it grows at 
Tantallan Castle, Berwickshire, and about Weems and Donibristle 
in Fifeshire, but cannot be considered as more than a naturalized 
plant. 
England, {Scotland,| Ireland. Perennial. Late Summer 
and Autumn. 
Rootstock long, emitting numerous subterranean stolons, and 
producing erect stems paniculately branched at the top and 2 to 4 
feet high. Radical leaves on long stalks, very large, the lamina 6 to 
10 inches long by 3 or 4 broad, somewhat resembling those of the 
Horseradish in shape but more abrupt and rounded at the base, 
persistent ; stem leaves, except the lowest, sessile, but all more or 
less narrowed towards the base and more gradually so towards the 
apex. Branches of the stem forming a panicle, each branch having 
one terminal and several lateral corymbs of small white flowers; 
corymbs with 1 to 38 bracts on their stalks. Flowers about ;5inch 
across; petals obovate; corymbs scarcely lengthening into racemes 
when in fruit. Fruit pedicels about $ inch long. Pod about 5/5 inch 
long, sometimes abortive. Seeds very small, oblong-ovoid, com- 
pressed, dark reddish brown, finely punctured. Whole plant glabrous 
and dull glaucous green. 
Broad-leaved Pepperwort, Poor Man’s Pepper. 
French, Passerage & Larges Feuilles. German, Breithlattriges Pfeferkraut, or Kresse. 
This plant, from its hot pungent taste, was much used as a condiment before the 
various substitutes for Pepper became common. It was sometimes called Dittander, and 
under that name was cultivated in cottage gardens. An iufusion of the leaves is emetic, 
and from this action it was probably considered to be valuable as a remedy in colic, 
We find Pliny, quoted by Gerarde, to say: “It is of the number of scorching and 
* The Plate is E. B. 182, with a pod added by Mr. J. E. Sowerby. 
