WEEDS OE THE MUSTARD FAMILY. 



85 



arrow-shaped. Flowers small, white. Pods heart-shaped or triangular, 

 broad at top, notched at apex then narrowed to base, borne on slender 

 stalks; seeds numerous, light brown, oblong, 1/20 inch in length, half as 

 wide. (Fig. 52.) 



Common everywhere in waste places, gardens and old cultivated 

 fields. March 10-Nov. 25. A winter annual whose green rosettes 



are very pretty at that season, but 

 whose spreading stems become an 

 eyesore in early spring. It is also 

 a host for the club-root fungus. At 

 all times of the year and every- 

 where, when it is not actually freez- 

 ing, this plant is growing. Each 

 pod contains about 20 seeds. When 

 put in water they, as well as those 

 of most other mustards, produce a. 

 large amount of mucilage and a 

 covering of rather long and very 

 fine transparent hairs. This, by ad- 

 hesion to passing objects, aids in 

 their distribution. A single plant 

 will ripen 20,000 of the seeds, so 

 that it has enormous power of 

 propagation. It will thrive any- 

 where, sometimes taking entire 

 possession of the soil from which it 

 draws a large amount of moisture. 

 Eemedies: constant hoeing and cultivation; hand pulling from 

 lawns; plowing or disk harrowing in late autumn; spraying with 

 iron sidphate solution; cutting out the fall rosettes with hoe or 

 spud. 



The name "mother's heart" is common in England. The chil- 

 dren hold out the seed pouch to their companions inviting them to 

 "take a haud o' that." It immediately cracks, and then follows 

 the triumphant shout "you've broken your mother's heart." In 

 Switzerland the same plant is offered to a person with the request 

 to pluck one of the pods. Should he do so the onlookers exclaim: 

 "you have stolen a purse of gold from your father and mother." 



Fig. 52. 



a, seed natural size; b, same X 6. 

 Selby.) 



(After 



The Rose Family.— ROSACEA. 



Herbs, shrubs or trees with regular perfect flowers; leaves al- 

 ternate, simple or compound, with stipules usually- present. Calyx 

 5-lobed with the disc of the flower firmly attached ; petals equal in 



