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Descriptive Flora 



BRASSICACEAE. Mustard Family. 



Bursa Bur so-past oris (L.) Britton. Shepherd 's-Purse. 



(Capsella bursar-past oris Moench.) 



This little mustard takes its name from the conspicuous 

 little, flat, triangular 2-lobed pods that form on slender pedicels 

 at right angles to the one to several erect stems as the plant con- 

 tinues to blossom. The tiny, white, inconspicuous flowers form 

 in terminal clusters as the stems grow and continue to blossom 

 always at the tip of the stems, until June, much like the Sweet 

 Alyssum, " Candytuft " of our gardens to which it is related. 

 Petals four, white, minute. Stamens six, two of which are 

 shorter than the others. Stem leaves few, alternate, simple, with 

 margins of the blades more or less toothed. Basal leaves in a 

 flat rosette, the blades 2 to 4" long, narrow, larger at the tip and 

 tapering toward the base, cut into many usually opposite, ir- 

 regular pointed lobes and a larger, terminal lobe. A weed intro- 

 duced from Europe. Found in lawns and city wastes. January 

 to April. These plants sometimes blossom again in the fall. 

 Genus name has its origin in the Lat. bursa, purse, from the 

 shape of the pod. 



Lepidium virginicmn L. Pepper grass 



Plant named for its peppery buds and equally peppery, 

 notched, flattened, tiny, scale-like seed cases. Flowers tiny, in- 

 conspicuous similar to Shepherd's Purse and only at the tip 

 of the ever lengthening flower stalks. Leaves largely basal form- 

 ing a flat rosette of divided or toothed blades. Stem leaves 

 narrow, toothed. One of our commonest weeds. 



Lepidium austrimim Small. Peppergrass. 



Differs from Lepidium virginicum in the stem leaves being 

 spatulate or oblanceolate, pedicels ascending during blossoming, 

 spreading at maturity, finely hirsute pods and absence of petals. 

 Genus taken from Gr. lepiclion, small scale, from the shape of the 

 pods. 



