94 THE caiTCIFEE FAMILY. 



XIV. ALYSSUia. ALYSSUM. 



Annuals or low branching perennials, witli a hoary or short stellate 

 down, and white or yellow flowers. Filaments of the stamens, or the 

 shorter ones only, usually winged near the base, or thickened, or furnished 

 with small teeth. Pod sessUe within the calyx, orbicular or oval, the par- 

 tition broad, the valves convex and not veined. Seeds 1 to 4, or very rarely 

 more, in each cell. Radicle accumbent on the edge of the cotyledons. 



An extensive genus, ranging over Europe and northern Asia, and tolerably 

 natui'al, distinguished fi-om Draba chiefly by the short few-seeded pod, with 

 moi-e convex valves, or by the appendages to the base of the filaments, one 

 or other of these characters being observable in all the species. They have 

 also usually a stiifer, more leafy habit, and even the annuals often look 

 woody. 



Sepals persisting round the pod. Petals minute, yellowish-wliite. 



Seeds 2 in each cell 1. Small A, 



Sepals falling off after flowering. Petals spreading, pure white. Seeds 



1 in each cell 2. Sweet A. 



The A. incanum, often separated as a genus under the name of Berteroa, 

 having longer pods with more seeds, a common annual in central and 

 eastern Europe, is said to have been occasionally found near Lewes and 

 near Weymouth, but does not appear to be permanently estabUshed. The 

 yellow- flowered A. saxatile, from southern Europe, is among the perennials 

 long established in our rock-gardens. 



1. Small Alyssum. Alyssuxn calyciniun, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2853.) 



A small, hard annual, often simple, 3 or 4 inches high, or, when very 

 luxuriant, branching at the base, and 6 inches high. Leaves oblong-linear, 

 much narrowed at the base. Petals inconspicuous, of a pale yellow. 

 Pods in a long raceme, on short pedicels, nearly orbicular, the narrow her- 

 baceous sepals persisting roimd them tdl they are ripe. The filaments of 

 the shorter stamens have each a small fine tooth or appendage at their base. 



In waste places, dry pastures, on the edges of fields, etc., in central and 

 southern Europe, from Sweden to the Caucasus. In Britain, but recently 

 found, in a few locaUties both in England and Scotland. Fl. spring and 

 early summer. 



2. S-^eet Alyssnin. Alyssnm maritimnm, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1729. Konlffa, Brit. Fl.) 



A hard annual or perennial, with much-branched procumbent or ascending 

 stems, from 4 or 5 inches to near a foot long. Leaves narrow-lanceolate or 

 linear, narrowed at the base, or stalked. Flowers white, with a honey scent, 

 rather small, but the petals obovate, spreading, and conspicuous. Pods 

 orbicular or slightly oval, with only one seed in each cell ; the calyx de- 

 ciduous. The filaments are without appendages. 



In waste places and dry pastm-es, cliiefly near the sea ; very abundant 

 round the Slediterranean. Much cultivated in our flower-gardens, and 

 sowing itself readily, it has become more or less established as a weed of 

 cultivation in some parts of England. Fl. all summer. Often distinguished 

 as a genus, under the name of Koniga. 



