CRUCIFER^ 371 



is found in waste places and dry sandy soils near the sea, often 

 abundantly in both islands. (Fl., Nov. to Feb.) 



Alyssum orientale, Ard. 

 Recorded by W. W. Smith in 1903 as occurring in Ashburton 

 County. 



Erophila vulgaris, DC. Whitlow-grass 



First reported by Petrie from Eastern and Central Otago, and on 

 ridges near Balclutha. (Fl., Oct. to Nov.) 



Erophila verna, Linn. 

 Recorded by W. W. Smith in 1903 (as Draba verna) as occurring 

 in Ashburton County. 



Cochlearia Armorada, Linn. Horse-radish 

 Probably introduced at an early date in settlement ; first recorded 

 in Hooker's list in 1864. Stated in the Manual to occur in deserted 

 gardens and waste places, but uncommon. It is chiefly, as Kirk puts 

 it, an outcast from gardens. 



Hesperis matronalis, Linn. Dame's Rocket 

 Reported as a garden escape in both islands; from Poverty Bay 

 by Bishop Williams; near Wellington by Kirk; and in cornfields at 

 Oamaru by Petrie. (Fl., Nov. to Dec.) 



Malcolmia maritima, R. Br. Virginian Cress 

 First reported from waste places near Wellington by Kirk, it 

 occurs as a garden escape in several localities. (FL, Sept. to June.) 



Cardamine hirsuta, Linn. Bitter Cress ^ 

 The introduced form of this species (which is also indigenous to 

 New Zealand) is one of the most troublesome weeds of cultivation 

 in gardens and greenhouses. The explosive fruits scatter the seeds, 

 and the plants produce cleistogamic flowers all through the winter 

 months. It flowers most of the year. 



Sisymbrium Sophia, Linn. Flix-weed 

 First reported by Petrie from Central Otago, growing near Alex- 

 andra and Naseby. (Fl., Dec. to Jan.) (According to Kerner, an 

 average plant of this species produced 730,000 seeds in a year.) 



Sisymbrium officinale. Scop. Hedge-mustard 

 Must have been common in the early days of settlement, but first 

 recorded from the Auckland district in 1882 by Cheeseman as being 



^ The indigenous form is now recognised as a distinct species C. heterophylta 

 ( = Sisymbrium heterophyllum, Forst. f.). 



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