cruciferjE 341 



sometimes used as a green manure. The mixed mustard 

 from this species is less pungent than that from B. nigra. 



RAPHANUS SATIVUS (Garden Radish) 



Habit. — The common garden radish is an annual or bien- 

 nial herb. It may produce fruit the same year, when planted 

 early in the season, while, if planted late, it produces a 

 fleshy tap root the first year, which may be kept over the 

 winter until the next year, when it produces fruit. 



Root. — The radish vegetable is mainly a tap root, varying 

 in size, shape, and color. At the top is a short hypocotyl 

 (stem). The laterals from the tap root are few in number 

 and very slender. 



Stem. — From the hypocotyl or crown of the radish, there 

 first appears a rosette of leaves, and later an erect, freely 

 branching stem, i to 23^ feet tall. This stem may be sparsely 

 pubescent with stiff hairs, especially below, or rarely gla- 

 brous throughout. 



Leaves. — The basal and lower leaves are deeply lyrate-pin- 

 natifid, 4 to 8 inches long; the upper leaves are few, small, 

 and oblong. 



Inflorescence and Flowers. — The inflorescence is an elon- 

 gated raceme (Fig. 132). The fl^owers are of the typical mus- 

 tard type; the sepals are erect and sac-like at the base; the 

 petals rose-lilac or white. 



Fruit. — The pods are i to ij^ inches long, two- to three- 

 seeded, fleshy, or corky with a spongy tissue separating the 

 seeds; the pods are not longitudinally grooved or promi- 

 nently constricted; they are capped by a long conic beak 

 which may equal or exceed the pod itself. 



Seeds and Seedling. — The seeds are small and of a yellowish 

 color; on one side, when viewed with a hand lens, may be 

 seen a small spot, in reaHty double, made up of the hilum and 



