THE CABBAGE FAMILY. 



501 



the family, being a succulent shrub, with numerous fleshy, 

 oblong leaves, attaining the height of about 3 feet, and of 

 long life, three plants at Kew being nearly one hundred 

 years old. 



The only representative of the family in this country is 

 the Water Chickweed, Montia fontana, a small aquatic plant, 

 growing in water and in wet places. 



THE CABBAGE, CISTUS, AND CAPER ALLIANCE. 

 The Fumitory Family. 



(FUMARIACE^,) 



Herbs perennial or annual, some climbing. Leaves alter- 

 nate, soft, generally many times divided, some with tendrils. 

 Flowers solitary, or in spike-like heads. Sepals 2. Petals 4, 

 cruciate, unequal, often ringent. Stamens 4 or 6, distinct, or 

 united in two parcels. Fruit a 1- or 2-seeded nut, or a 

 succulent, many-seeded pod, without valves. 



About 100 species constitute this family. They are 

 natives chiefly of the Northern, but sparingly represented in 

 the Southern hemisphere. Many being of a weedy nature, 

 they are readily introduced through commerce into various 

 countries. Several of them are handsome garden floAvers, 

 especially Fumaria (JDielytra) spectabilis, a native of China. 

 From the appearance of the flowers of Fumaria Cucullaria, 

 it has received the name of breeches-flower, which may also 

 be well applied to Fumaria spectahilis. F. officinalis is often 

 to be seen growing in great abundance in suburban coal-ash 

 depots, and similar situations, having the appearance of smoke, 

 when seen at a distance, whence the name Fumewort. 



The Cabbage Family. 



(Crucifer^.) 



Herbs perennial, biennial, or annual, rarely frutlets. 

 Leaves alternate, generally entire, or variously lobed or 

 divided. Flowers in spikes or racemes. Sepals 4. Petals 



