44 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Ohs. This plant, a native of Canada, and the country fufther north, 

 Ib cultivated in the gardens, near Philadelphia, under the name oi 

 " Scurvy-Grass," and is becoming spontaneous farther south. The 

 leaves afford a tolerable salad, but not equal to the common cress [Lepi- 

 dium sativum, L.,) nor to the Water-cress [Nasturtium officinale, R. Br.) 

 There is another and stouter species [B. vulgaris, R. Br., probably 

 naturalized), growing along our streams, which is sometimes used as a 

 salad, but it is bitterish and inferior in quality to this. 



3. SISYM'BKIUM, L. Hedge-mustard. 



[An ancient Greek name, applied to tliis genus.] 



Silique somewhat terete ; 4-6 sided ; valves 1 - 3-nerved. Seeds 

 oblong, marginless. Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves various. 



1. S. oiSciiia'Ie, Scop. Lower leaves runcin&te, upper ones some- 

 what hastate ; racemes slender and virgate ; siliques erect, awl-shaped, 

 close pressed to the stem. 

 Officinal SiSYMBRimvi. Hedge-mustard. 



Fr. Herbe au Ohantre. Germ, Der Hederich. Span. Jaramago. 



Boot annual. Sleml-Z or 4 feet high, with spreading branches. Leaves pilose ; lower 

 ones 3-6 or 8 inches long. Petals small, greenish yellow. Siliques terete-subulate or 

 Bomewhat nerved and angular, tapering at apex. 



Cultivated grounds, lanes and road-sides: introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. May- 

 Aug. Fi: Aug. - Oct. 



Obs. This foreigner is completely naturalized, and somewhat trouble- 

 some as a weed. It was formerly held in some repute, in Europe, as a 

 remedy for coughs, the hoarseness of singers, &c. (whence its French 

 name) ; but its virtues were doubtless overrated, and it is now regarded 

 by tidy farmers in this country merely as a plant to be expelled from 

 their premises. 



4. BRAS 'SIC A, L. Cabbage. Turnip. 



[Supposed to be from Bresic, the Celtic name for the Cabbage.] 



Calyx erect. Silique sub-terete ; valves concave, or slightly keeled by 

 a central nerve. Seeds in a single series, globose. Foreign plants : 

 mostly biennial herbs, with a short stem and long flowering branches. 



1. B. olera'cea, L. Leaves somewhat fleshy, orbicular or oblong, 

 strongly veined, repand or lobed, glabrous and glaucous. 

 Oleraceous or Pot-herb Brassica. Cabbage. 

 Fr. Chou potager. Germ. Der Kohl. Span. Berza. 



The following Sub-species or Varieties are more or less cultivated Id 

 the kitchen garden. 



