232 XV. CAPPAEIDE^. 



cultivated; its spring slaoots are blanched, and when cooked have so.uewhat tlie taste of Caiiliflowera . 

 C. tatarica inhabits the sandy plains of Hungary and Moravia ; its large root, commonly called Tartar 

 bread, is eaten, cooied or raw, seasoned with oil, vinegar, and salt. 



Black Mustard (Sitiajiin nigra) grows in fields throughout Europe. Its powdered seeds ai'e used as a 

 condiment and rubefacient ; it contains a fixed and very acrid I'olatile oil, to which latter its pungent 

 quality is due. But this volatile oil does not exist there ready formed ; it is produced by the action of a peculiar 

 albumine (myrosine) on the myronic acid contained in the seed ; it is this acid which becomes the volatile 

 oil ; and to effect this change the albumine must be soaked in cold water, which, by dissolving it, renders 

 it fit to change the acid into a volatile oil. AVhite Mustard {S. alba) contains principles analogousto those 

 of the preceding species, the mucilaginous testa of the seed being superadded to an active principle, 

 which stimulates the digestive organs. jS. chinensis is valued in India as much as S. mgra. 



Horseradish {CocJilearia rusticana or Annoracia) is cultivated in all gardens of central Europe; its 

 root contains much sugar, starch, fatty oil, and albumine, and is eaten as a condiment. The acrid ■ 

 principle which it contains, and which is developed by the action of water, like that of Sinapis, gives it 

 antiscorbutic properties. 



The seeds of the Wild Radish (Itaphanistnitn arveiise), oi Eruca sqtiva, of Mithridate Mustard ( Thlaspi 

 arvense), and of Honesty (Lunariii redimva), indigenous plants, have fallen into disuse, in spite of their 

 stimulating acridity. Those of Camelina sativa contain a fixed oil, used for burning. 



The leaves of "Woad (Isatis tlnctoriii), a herb common throughout France, yield a blue dye, similar 

 to indigo, but inferior, with which the Picts and Celts used to paint themselves ; and from these early 

 times blue has remained the national colour for our royal robes. 



Anastatica hierochwitica is a small annual which grows in sandy places in Arabia, Egypt, and Syria. 

 Its stem branches from the base, and bears sessile flowers, which give place to rounded pods ; as these 

 ripen, the leaves fall, the branches harden, dr3', and curve inwards, and the plant contracts into a rounded 

 cushion, which the autumn winds soon uproot, and carry even to the sea shore. Thence it is brought to 

 Europe, where it fetches a high price, on account of its hygrometrio properties ; if the tip of its root be 

 placed in water, .or even if the plant be exposed to damp, the pods open and the branches uncurl, to close 

 afresh when dry. This peculiarity, together with its native country (whence its name. Rose of Jericho), 

 has given rise to the popular superstition that the flower expands yearly on the day and hour of Christ's 

 birth. Women sometimes place the plant in water at the commencement of labour, hoping that its 

 expansion may be the signal for their deliverance. Many other plants possess a similar hygrometrio 

 property ; ' as certain Comjwsita of the genus Asteriscus, Plantayo cretica, Sela,ginella circinalis, &c. 



XY. CAPPARWE^. 



(Capparides, Mssieu. — Cappakideje, Fewiewoi.— Capparidace^, Lindl.) 



Sepals 4-8, free or ■coherent. Petals hypogynous or perigynous, 4-8 or 0. 

 Stamens usually 6, or oo, hypogynous or perigynous. Ovary usually stipitate and 

 1-eelled, ivith parietal placentas. Ovules curved. Fruit a siliquose capsule, or herry. 

 Seeds exalhuminous. Embryo arched or folded. 



Herbaceous annual, or rarely perennials, often shrubby, sometimes arborescent 

 {Morisonia, Oratwva, &c.), witb watery juice. Stem and branches terete, glabrous, 

 glandular, cottony, or rarely scaly {Atamisquea, Gapparis). Leaves alternate, or very 

 rarely opposite {Atamisquea), petioled, simple or digitate, leaflets entire, very rarely 

 toothed (CTeome), or lobed [Thylachium] ; sffpuZes usually or inconspicuous, setaceous 



' In England, Mesembryanthemiim capsules are sold as the Rose of Jericho; as is the Mexican Schginella 

 Icpklophylla. —En. 



