158 FLORA OF TEXAS. 



au embryo. It is always bent and folded up in various 

 ways. The genera of this whole family is distinguished by 

 the pod. 



SYNOPSIS. 



I. SiLiQUOSE. Fruit a pilique, few-many-seeded. 



* Cotyledons flattened, parallel with the partition, one edge applied to the 

 ascending radicle (accumbcnt). 



* Valves ofthef/n/U 'nerveless. 



Silique short, nearly terete. Seeds in two rows in each cell NasTURTiUM. 



linear, compressed. Seeds wingless in a single row Cardamine. 



tt Valves of the f nut \-7\erved. 



** Cotyledons flat, with one edge turned toward the partition, and the back 

 of one of them applied to the ascending radicle. 



Silique sessile, nearly terete Sisymbrium. 



II. SlUCULOSEJB. 



Silicle compressed, parallel with the broad partition, or globular. 



Silicle oval or oblong, many-seeded Draba. 



orbicular, few-seeded Vesicaria. 



** Silicle ( ompressed contrary to the narrow partition. 



Valves oi the silicle boat-shaped. Seeds solitary LEnuiUM. 



NASTURTIUM, R. Br. Watercress. 



Silique nearly terete, linear or oblong, or short and silicle- 

 like, usually curved upward; the valves nerveless. Seeds 

 numerous, small, in two rows in each cell, not margined. 

 Cotyledons accumbent. — Herbs. Leaves pinnately lobed. 

 Flowers white or yellow, small. 



N. tanacetifolium. Hook and Arn. Smooth ; stems 

 diffuse; leaves pinnately divided, with pinnatifid or toothed 

 lobes; silique oblong-linear, pointed with the short style, 

 twice as long as the pedicel. Damp soil. March, April. 

 Stems 6-12' long. Flowers minute, 3'ellow. 



N. SESSiLiFLORUM, Nutt. Smooth ; ste?n stout, erect. 



