670 The American Naturalist. [August, 
can use to illustrate this idea, which receives such constant sup- 
port with other plants whenever facilities for investigation occur. 
The mangold, mangold-wiirzel or Root of Scarcity is called in 
France Disettc, Racine d'abojidance, Betterave Disette ; in Ger- 
many, mangel-worzcl, f utter-rube , futter-runklerube ; Flanders and 
Holland, mangel-ivortel ; in Spain remolacha de grav cultivo, 
betabel campestu. 
MARTYNiA. Martynia, sp. 
The fruits of the Martynias, when gathered while young and 
tender, make an excellent pickle, and they are occasionally grown 
in our gardens for this purpose. There are two species. 
M. proboscidea Glox. This purple-flowered form occurs wild 
on the banks of the Mississippi and lower tributaries to New 
Mexico. It is also cultivated in gardens further north, about 
which it is apt to become naturalized.^* It is mentioned under 
American cultivation in 1841.^ It was known in England as a 
plant of ornament in 1738,^^ and perhaps there has scarcely as 
yet entered the kitchen garden. 
M. lutea Lindl. This species, originally from Brazil, has yellow 
flowers.''^ It does not appear to be in American gardens, as I 
have never seen it, nor is its seed advertised by our seedsmen. 
It reached Europe in i824.-^ It is described by Vilmorin as 
under kitchen garden culture. 
The Martynia, or Unicorn plant,^^ is called in France martynia, 
cornaret, comes du diable, bicorne, angles du diable ; in Germany, 
genisenhorner f' in Italy, testa di quaglia ;^ in Malta, testa di 
quaglia^ 
MEADOW CABBAGE. Ctrsium oleraceuni Scop. 
This plant is included among vegetables by Vilmorin,** although 
he says it does not appear to be ever cultivated. The swollen 
iard.Veg., 1863.6 
of Bot. 
