MEADOW-CRESS 



263 



MEADOW-CRESS 



Cardamine pratensis, L. CrucifercB. 



French^ Cresson des pres. German, Wiesenkresse. Spanish, Berros de prado. 



Native of Europe. — Perennial. — A wild plant, common in moist 

 meadows and on the banks of rivers, etc. Leaves pinnate, some- 

 what like those of the Water-cress, but far less fleshy and often 

 tinged with violet-brown ; stem erect, furnished with a few leaves 

 cut into linear divisions ; flowers of fair size, rose-coloured or pale 

 lilac, opening very early in spring ; seed small, oblong, irregular in 

 shape, and brown. Their germinating power lasts for four years. 

 This plant is not of much value as a table vegetable. There is, 

 however, a double-flowered variety which, with its clusters of pale 

 lilac blossoms, is pretty in gardens when winter has just ended. 

 The leaves have a biting and pungent taste. 



parA cress 



• Spilanthes oleracea, L. Composites. 



French, Cresson de Para. German, Hussarenknopf, Flemish, ABC kruid. 



Native of the West Indies. — Annual. — An almost creeping 

 plant, with entire oval leaves, which are truncate at the base. 

 Flowers in conical heads, 

 without petals, and of a 

 yellow colour, borne on 

 the top of the stem ; seed 

 very small, oval, flat, 

 grayish, and covered with 

 small round prominences. 

 Their germinating power 

 lasts for at least five years. 

 The seed is sown, in the 

 place where the crop is 

 to grow, in March or 

 April. The plants com- 

 mence to flower in about 

 two months afterwards, 

 and continue to bloom all 

 through the summer. In 

 hot weather they require 

 to be watered plentifully. 



Uses. — The leaves Brazil Cress a natural size). 



mixed with salads impart 



a pungent flavour, and have the effect of stimulating the action oi 

 the salivary glands. This use of them is not common, and the plant 

 belongs to the province of pharmacy rather than the kitchen garden. 



