170 CRUCIFER.E. 



Etymology. An old Arabic name, of uncertain meaning. 



Geographical Distribution. A genus of a few maritime plants, be- 

 longing to the Atlantic shores of the northern hemisphere. Our northern 

 species is also found along the Great Lakes. There is a second species on 

 our Southern coast. 



PLATE 74. Cakile Americana, Nutt. ; — a branch in fruit and flower, 

 of the natural size ; from the shore of Massachusetts. 



1. A flower, enlarged. 



2. A sepal ; and 3, a petal, enlarged. 



4. Stamens and pistil, enlarged. 



5. Magnified pistil with the receptacle, seen edgewise. 



6. The same, seen laterally. 



7. Vertical section of the last, showing the cells and ovules. 



8. Enlarged silicle, in a dry state, the joints separated. 



9. Transverse section of the upper joint and seed. 



10. Vertical section of a fresh pod, magnified, the two seeds transversely 



divided, showing the cotyledons. 



11. Enlarged seed, from the upper cell, entire. 



12. The same, thrice divided, showing that the radicle is rather oblique. 



