28 THE CRUCIFER FAMILY. (Nasturtium. 
branched, sometimes very short and creeping, or floating i in shallow water ; 
sometimes scrambling on banks, or bushes to the length of 2 feet or more, 
Leaves pinnate, with distant segments, the terminal one usually longer, 
ovate or orbicular. Flowers small and white, in short racemes. Pod 
about 6 or 8 lines long or rather more, on spreading pedicels, but slightly 
curved upwards, the double rows of the seeds very distinct. 
_ Along brooks and rivulets, throughout Europe and Russian Asia, except 
the extreme north, and naturalized in America and the Colonies. Abun- 
dant in Britain except in some of the Scotch Highlands. VU. the whole 
summer. 
2. N. sylvestre, Br, (fig. 53). Creeping Watercress.—Stem creeping 
at the base, the flowering branches erect or ascending, a foot high or more. 
Leaves all or most of them deeply pinnatifid or almost pinnate, the lower 
lobes distinct and narrow, the terminal one often larger and broader. 
Flowers yellow and small, although the petals are considerably longer than 
the calyx. Pod nearly that of N. officinale, but rather more slender, and the 
two rows of seeds rather less distinct. 
On river-banks and in wet places, distributed over Europe and Russian 
Asia, but apparently not so far north as NV. officinale. Sparingly scattered 
over England and Ireland, and still more rare in Scotland. #7. summer. 
3. N. palustre, DC. (fig. 54). Marsh Watercress, Yellow Cress. 
—Much resembles WN. sylvestre, but usually weaker and not so tall, the 
lobes of the leaves rather broader and more toothed, the petals seldom 
exceed the calyx, and the pod is seldom above 8 lines long, slightly curved, 
the seeds much crowded, in two distinct rows in each cell. LN. terrestre 
Sm. 
In muddy and watery places, throughout Europe and Russian Asia, 
from the Mediterranean to the Arctic regions, in North America, and in 
Australia. Pretty frequent in England and Ireland, but decreasing con- 
siderably in Scotland. #7. summer and winter. 
4, N. amphibium, Br, (fig.55). Great Watercress, Yellow Cress.— 
A taller and more erect plant than either of the two preceding, attaining 2 
or 3 feet. Leaves less divided. sometimes narrow lanceolate, 3 or 4 inches 
long, and only slightly toothed, more frequently deeply toothed or pinnately 
lobed, sometimes divided to the midrib into narrow segments. Flowers 
yellow, larger than in the two last, the petals longer than the calyx. Pod 
straight, elliptical, about 2 lines long, or sometimes shorter and almost 
globular, the style much longer than in the other species. 
In moist meadows and watery places, throughout Europe and Russian 
Asia. Generally distributed over England, Ireland, and southern Scot- 
land, but not very common. FV. summer. The shortness of the pod in 
this and some varieties of VV. palustre has induced some botanists to remove 
them to Silzculose, and associate them with the Horseradish in the genus 
Armoracia or Roripa, a junction which appears purely artificial. 
V. ARABIS. ROCKCRESS. 
Annuals or perennials, usually erect and hairy, at least at their base, 
with a spreading tuft of radical leaves, which are occasionally lobed, the 
stem-leaves undivided, sessile or stem-clasping ; the flowers white, or, in a 
few exotic species, purple. Pod long and linear, the stigma nearly sessile, 
