436 ceucifeEjE. 



or plait, and Xo/3os, a lobe), || || || cotyledons twice folded, in a spiral, 

 radicle dorsal, as in Subularia. The tribes Pleurorbizese and Noto- 

 rhizese are sometimes included under the name Platylobese, meaning 

 that the cotyledons are plane or flat (irXarjg, broad). 



The divisions founded on the seed-vessel are — 1. SiliquosEe, a 

 siliqua, linear or linear-lanceolate, valves opening longitudinally, as in 

 Wallflower. 2. Siliculos» Latiseptse (latus, broad, and septum, par- 

 tition), a silicula, partition in its broadest diameter, oval or oblong, 

 valves flat or convex, opening longitudinally, as in Thlaspi. 3. Sili- 

 culosse angustiseptse (angustus, narrow), a silicula, partition in its nar- 

 row diameter, linear or lanceolate, valves opening longitudinally, folded 

 and keeled as in Capsella. 4. Nucumentacese (nucumentum, a nut), 

 silicula, valves indistinct or indehiscent, often 1-celled, from the absence 

 of the replum or partition, as in Isatis. 5. Septulatse (septa, parti- 

 tions), valves opening longitudinally, furnished with transverse parti- 

 tions in, their interior, as in Anastatica. 6. Lomentaceae (lomentum, 

 an articulate legume), siliqua or sUicula, dividing transversely into 

 single-seeded cells, the true siliqua being often barren, and all the seeds 

 placed in the beak, as in Sea-kale. 



In this order there is a want of symmetry as regards the number 

 of stamens, compared with the floral envelopes. The two long 

 stamens placed close together may, however, be looked upon as one 

 divided by a process of deduplication, so that the actual number will 

 thus be reduced to four. This view is confirmed by the shorter stamens 

 having teeth on each side, while the longer ones are toothed on one 

 side only. By pelorization, too, some Cruciferse become tetrandrous. 

 WhUe there is a splitting of the filaments, there is also the production 

 of two additional anther-lobes. Others think that the androecium of 

 Cruciferse is composed of two quaternary whorls, the lower one being 

 composed of the two lateral short stamens only, the other two, which 

 should be developed in front of the antero-posterior sepals, being 

 abortive ; while the upper whorl is composed of the four long stamens 

 which approach each other and form two pairs. In regard to the fruit, 

 it has been stated that normally there are four carpidia or carpels, 

 two of which are constantly abortive. In some species of Iberis there 

 have been seen four sepals, four petals, four stamens, and four carpels. 

 Thus the floral type of Cruciferse is quaternary : calyx having four 

 sepals, corolla four petals, receptacle four staminiferous glands, androe- 

 cium four stamens, gynoecium four phyllidia, fruit four carpidia. 



There are no truly poisonous plants in the "order. In general, 

 it possesses antiscorbutic and stimulant qualities, with a certain degree 

 of acridity. Many of the most common culinary vegetables belong to 

 the order, such as Cabbages, Cauliflower, Turnip, Eadish, Cress, Horse- 

 radish, etc. They contain much sulphur and nitrogen, and on this 

 account, when decaying, give oif a disagreeable odour. Many garden 



