350 The Flora of Wiltshire. 



Locality. Cultivated and moist arable land, especially on clay, 

 likewise on waste ground, hedge banks, &c, particularly where the 

 soil has been recently disturbed. A. Fl. May, October. Area, 

 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



Much too general in all the districts throughout Wilts. A na- 

 tive probably of Southern Europe, but now one of the most abun- 

 dant weeds of cornfields all over Britain. 



" O'er the young corn the charlock throws a shade, 

 And clasping tares cling round the sickly blade." 



3. S. alba, (Linn.) White Mustard. It is called alba, white, be- 

 cause the seeds are paler than S. nigra, the black or table mustard. 

 S. alba with Lepidium sativum form the salad called mustard and 

 cress. Engl. Bot. t. 1677. Reich, Icones, ii. 85. 



Locality. Frequent on road sides, waste ground, hedge banks, 

 and cultivated fields, especially on chalky soils. A. Fl. July. Area, 

 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



Frequent in all the Districts. Well distinguished from the other 

 British species by its long thin beak, which contains a single seed. 



Draba, (Linn.) Whitlow Grass. 

 Linn. CI. xv. Ord. i. 



Name. Drabe, (Gr.) acrid, as are the leaves of many of this tribe. 



1. D. verna, (Linn.) vernal. Common Whitlow Grass. Nailwort. 

 Engl. Bot. t. 586. Reich. Icones, ii. 12. Erophila vulgaris (D.C.) 



Locality. On walls, rocks, banks, and dry waste ground. A. Fl. 

 February, March, April, and withers away soon after the seed is 

 scattered, the dry scapes supporting the membranous dissepiments 

 of the silicuhe, remaining, however, nearly through the summer. 

 Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Yery common throughout the county. 



This is one of our earliest plants, enlivening the tops of walls, 

 rocks, and barren uncultivated places, with its little white blossoms 

 at a time when there are very few other flowers to attract our at- 

 tention, and though it is insignificant in itself, yet it excites in us 

 the pleasing reflection that* the season is approaching when 



"All that is sweet to smell, all that can charm 

 Or eye or ear, bursts forth on every side, 

 And crowds upon the senses." 



