54 



THE CRUCIFER FAMILY. 



4. Hairy Bittercress. Cardamine hirsuta, Linn. (Fig. 65.) 



(Eng. Eot. t. 492.) 



An annual, of a deep green colour, 

 often much branched at the base, with 

 ascending or erect stems, sometimes a 

 foot high, but usually not half so much, 

 with a few scattered hairs, which, how- 

 ever, are often very inconspicuous. 

 Leaves pinnate, the segments small, 

 those of the lower leaves ovate or 

 rounded, and angularly toothed, the up- 

 per ones narrower and more entire. 

 Flowers small and white, the petals sel- 

 dom twice the length of the very small 

 sepals. Pods in a rather loose raceme, 

 about 6 lines to 1 inch long. 



On moist or shady banks, waste and 

 cultivated places, throughout the tempe- 

 rate regions of the globe. Abundant in 

 Britain. Fl. spring and all summer. It 

 varies much, like other Bitterer esses, in 

 the length and thickness of the style ; 



and in the common small form the stamens are usually reduced to 4. 



A large luxuriant variety, with 6 stamens, is sometimes distinguished 



as a species, under the name of C. sylvatica. 



Fig. 65. 



VII. TOOTHCRESS. DENTAKIA. 



Perennials, with a horizontal, fleshy, and toothed or knotted root- 

 stock, and simple stems, with a few rather large pinnate or stalked 

 leaves, and bearing rather large white or purple flowers ; the other cha- 

 racters those of Bittercress, except that the pod is rather broader 

 and tapering at the top, and the little seedstalks are usually flat and 

 broad. 



A genus of several species, with a somewhat peculiar habit, all con- 

 fined to the northern hemisphere. 



1. Bulbiferous Toothcress. Dentaria bulbifera, Linn. 

 (Fig. 66.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 309. Coralroot.) 

 Stem weak, 1 to 1\ feet high, bearing several leaves, often with a 



