Dentaria laciniata. 5 



either end, varying greatly in number, being often only two or three, 

 While at other times many are found catenated by numerous, small, 

 darker coloured fibres. Hence the specific name by which Michaux 

 designated this species. Stem bifoliate, cylindrical, greenish-yellow. 

 Leaves three times ternate, laciniatcd, consisting of three-parted fo- 

 lioles ; the lacinire oblong-linear, smooth on both sides ; costa conspi- 

 cuous. Flowers pedunculated, borne in a cluster without bracts or 

 bracteiform scales ; they are of a pale peach-blossom-red colour. Pe- 

 tals four, obtuse, spathulate. Grows on the sides of rich shady woods, 

 and in elevated situations screened from the sun, where the soil consists 

 principally of rich mould made up of decayed vegetable matter, from 

 one end of the United States to the other. Flowers in May and June. 



The genus Dentaria or Tooth-wort takes its name from the re- 

 semblance of the tuberous roots of the whole genus to teeth. The 

 known North American species do not exceed four in number. 

 Pursh only enumerates three. I have, however, seen mutilated 

 specimens from Kentucky, of a fourth species. Like most of the 

 cruciform plants, the different species possess in common, a por- 

 tion of that peculiar pungent property known in mustard, pepper- 

 grass, and horse-radish. The roots of the Dentaria diphylla, a spe- 

 cies allied to this one, found abundantly in beach woods on the high 

 mountains of the western country, are used by the inhabitants in- 

 stead of mustard. It is known by the name Pepper-root. The flowers 

 of the present species are never purple as stated by Pursh, but a deli- 



VOL. in. 2 



