92 ' THE CEtrCIFEE FAMILY, 



6. Mustard Brassica. Brassica alba, Eoiss. 

 {Sinapis, Eng. Bot. t. 1677. Cultivated Mustard.) 



Stem 1 to 2 feet high, glabrous, or with spreading, stiff hairs. Leaves 

 pinuately lobed or divided, more or less rough, the lobes ovate or oblong, 

 coarsely toothed, the terminal one the largest. Plowers rather large, fruit- 

 pedicels spreading. Pod f to 1 inch long, but more than half occupied by 

 a stout flattened beak, often cui-ved, with a single seed in its base, the valves 

 and lower part of the beak very liispid with stiff white hairs concealing the 

 prominent nerves. 



In waste and cultivated places, iu temperate and southern Em'ope and 

 western Asia, and often cultivated for salad or forage. Not unfi-equent 

 in some parts of England and Ireland, more rare in Scotland. Fl. all 

 summer. 



7. Charlock Brassica. Brassica Sinapistrum, Boiss. 

 {Sinapis arvensis, Eng. Bot. t. 1748. Charlock. Wild Mustard.) 



A coarse annual, 1 to 2 feet high, with a few stiff spreading hairs. Leaves 

 rough with very short hairs, the lower ones usually with one large oval or 

 oblong coarsely-toothed segment, and a few smaller ones along the leafstalk, 

 the upper ones often undivided, oblong or lanceolate. Flowers rather 

 large. Pods more or less spreading, ^ to 1| inches long, of which rather 

 more than a tliu'd is occupied by a stout beak, often containing a seed in 

 its base ; the valves glabrous, or rough with stiff reflexed hairs, the lateral 

 nerves prominent. 



A native probably of southern Europe, but now one of the most abundant 

 weeds of cultivation throughout Em-ope and Russian Asia, and but too 

 common all over Britain. Fl. all summer. 



8. Black Brassica. Brassica nigra, Boiss. 

 (Sinapis, Eng. Bot. t. 969. Black Mustard.) 



Less hairy than the two last species, and sometimes entirely glabrous, 

 . especially in the upper part, but the lower leaves and stem are generally 

 shghtly hispid. Stem 2 feet high or more. Leaves mostly deeply divided, wit h 

 one large terminal ovate or oblong lobe and a few small lateral ones, the 

 upper leaves often small and entu-e. Elowers rathel' smaller than in the 

 Charlock. Pods on short pedicels, closely pressed against the axis of the 

 long slender racemes, glabrous, seldom more than half an inch long, with a 

 slender style, slightly conical at the base, the valves marked with a strong 

 midrib. 



On banks, under hedges, in waste and cultivated places, in central and 

 southern Europe and central Asia, and much cultivated for its seed. Scat- 

 tered over England and more rarely in Scotland, but probably introduced 

 only into Britain from or with cultivation. Fl. summer. 



9. Hoary Brassica. Brassica adpressa, Boiss. 

 (JErucastrum incanmn, Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2848. Sinapis, Brit. EI.) 

 Very hke the hlack B. in habit and fohage, but more fi-equently biennial, 

 the stem stiffer and harder at the base, the leaves less divided, and more or 

 less hoary with short rough hau's. Pods short and closely pressed against 

 the axis, as in the hlack B., but they terminate in a short thick beak, with 

 a seed in the base, instead of a slender style. Seeds rather ovoid, not 

 globular. 



