.38 CBUCIFJEBM. 



opposite the sepals. Ovary 2-celled by a placental membrane, or 1- 

 celled, or with superimposed cellules ; style short and usually persistent 

 or none. Stigma simple or 2-lobed ; ovules usually many, in 1 or 2 

 series on the 2 parietal placentas. Fruit a 2-celled 2-valved pod, the 

 valves deciduous and leaving the seeds on the placentas, or indehis- 

 cent or transversely jointed. Seeds small, albumen 0. Cotyledons 

 large ; radicle turned up on the back of one cotyledon (incumbent), 

 or facing the edges of both (accumbent). 



A large and widely distributed family, containing over 1,200 species. 

 They are found most abundantly in the temperate and cooler regions of 

 the N. Hemisphere. In the Polar regions and on the higher mountain 

 ranges they often reach the limit of phaenogamous vegetation ; conse- 

 quently very few indigenous species are met with in the plains of India» 

 and themajority)of these are annuals which flower and ripen their seeds 

 within the period of the cold season. As a family it is easily recognized 

 by the 4 free cruciform petals, and by the 6 stamens, 4 of which are 

 long and 2 short {tetradynamous). For the correct determination of the 

 genera, however, it is necessary to examine the internal structure of the 

 seed. The family is also generally characterized by its antiscorbutic pro- 

 perties, and this fact no doubt determined the selection in very early 

 times of the many well-known plants producing wholesome vegetables, 

 and their gradual development and improvement under cultivation. The 

 seeds of Cruciferce contain a large quantity of fixed oil, for obtaining 

 which certain kinds of Brassica such as sarson, tori and rai, are largely 

 grown in India (see under Brassica). The following plants belonging 

 to genera not otherwise represented in the plains of India are commonly 

 grown for ornamental purposes -.—Ten-week Stock (Matthiola annual), 

 Wallflower (CheiranthusCheiri), and Candytuft (Iberis contracta). 



Pods long or short, dehiscing throughout their length. 

 Pods terete, or compressed dorsally (parallel 

 to septum). 



Pods rarrow, long (sometimes short in 

 Nasturtium), cotyledons accumbent. 



Pods turgid, seeds in 2 rows . 1. Nasturtium. 

 Pods flat, valves elastic, seeds in 

 1 row 2. Cardamine. 



Pods short and broad, cotyledons accum- 

 bent. 

 Flowers pink, sepals erect, seeds 

 broadly winged- A pubescent 

 under shrub . . . .3. Farsetia. 



Flowers yellow, sepals spreading, 

 seeds not winged. A glabrous 



herb 4. Coohlearia. 



Pods long and narrow, compressed, not 

 beaked ; seeds in 1 row, cotyledons 

 incumbent . . . . .5. Sisymbrium, 



