Crambe.] VI. CRUCIFER^E. 49 



XXVI. CRAMBE. CRAMBE. 



Erect, stout perennials, or, in some foreign species, annuals, with 

 toothed or divided leaves, and loose panicles of white flowers. Pod 

 apparently stalked in the calyx (that is, supported on a stalk-like 

 abortive lower article), globular, indehiscent, with one seed. Radicle 

 incumbent on the back of the cotyledons, which are folded over it as in 



A well-characterised and natural genus, containing several south 

 European, west Asiatic, and Canary Island species. 



1. O. maritima, Linn. (fig. 112). Seakale. — A glabrous plant, of a 

 glaucous green, forming a thick, hard, perennial stock. Stems branched, 

 about 2 feet high. Lower leaves stalked, large, rather thick, broadly 

 oblong or rounded, waved and coarsely toothed or pinnatifid ; the 

 upper leaves few and smaller. Panicle large and much branched. 

 Filaments of the longer stamens forked. Pod 3 or 4 lines diameter ; 

 the abortive article or stalk within the calyx about a line long or 

 rather more. 



In maritime sands and stony places in western Europe, and Baltic, 

 reappearing on the Black Sea. In Britain, scattered along all the 

 coasts. Introduced into our gardens two centuries ago from Devon- 

 shire. Fl. early summer. 



XXVII. RAPHANUS. RADISH. 



Coarse, often hairy annuals or biennials ; the lower leaves pinnatifid 

 or pinnate, the flowers rather large. Pod more or less elongated, thick, 

 pointed, indehiscent, more or less contracted or even jointed between 

 the seeds, without any longitudinal partition when ripe, but containing 

 several seeds, separated by a pithy substance filling the pod. Radicle 

 incumbent on the back of the cotyledons, which are folded over it. 



A genus well characterised by the pod, but consisting of very few 

 species, or perhaps of more or less permanent races of one species. 

 Our garden Radish is unknown in a wild state, but some Mediterranean 

 varieties of the wild one come so near to it as to suggest its being a 

 cultivated race of that species, although placed by some botanists in a 

 distinct genus. 



1. It. Haphanistrum, Linn. (fig. 113). Wild R. t Jointed or White 

 Charlock. — An erect or spreading annual or biennial, 1 to 2 feet high, 

 much branched, with a few stiff hairs on the base of the stem. Leaves 

 pinnately divided or lobed, the terminal segment large, obovate or 

 oblong, and rough with short hairs ; the upper leaves often narrow 

 and entire. Flowers of the size of those of the Charlock, the calyx 

 very erect, the petals either white, with coloured veins, or pale yelJow, 

 or lilac. Pod usually 1 to 1 \ inches long, nearly cylindrical when fresh, 

 and terminating in a long, pointed, or conical style, when dry more or 

 less furrowed longitudinally, and often separating in joints between 

 the seeds. 



A common weed of cultivation, throughout Europe and temperate 

 Asia, and equally abundant in Britain. Fl. summer and autumn. A 

 sea-coast variety, particularly abundant round the Mediterranean, but 

 extending up the shores of western Europe to those of England, 



D 



