Root fibrous. Ste/n none. Leaves several, arranged in a star- 
like form, close to the ground, oblong-spear-shaped, entire, or 
slightly toothed, hairy, hairs either simple or forked. Flower-stalks 
one or more, radical, from 2 to 6 inches high, round, wavy, leaf- 
less, hairy when young, smooth after flowering, terminating in a 
small corymbose head of minute, white, inodorous flowers, which 
elongates into a fruit-bearing raceme or cluster. Petals twice the 
length of the calyx, cloven half way down (bifid), fig. 2. Sil'ieulce 
(pods) rather distant, oval, compressed, smooth, crowned with the 
permanent sessile stigma. 
This is one of our earliest flowering 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 attention ; 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.” 
LinN/EUS, in his Tour in Lapland, informs us that the Dr aba 
Verna in Smoland, is called Rye Flower, because as soon as the 
husbandman sees it in bloom, he is accustomed to sow his Lent 
corn. He observes also, that the flowers hang down in the night, 
and in rainy weather. In some countries abundance of this little 
plant is supposed to prognosticate dearness of corn ; which may 
have some foundation, as a wet season produces a great crop of this 
little weed. — It may be used as salad. Goats, sheep, and horses 
eat it ; cows are not fond of it ; swine refuse it. 
The Order Cruci'i f.r,t., to which this plant belongs, is one of the largest and 
most natural families in the vegetable kingdom : in the plants composing it, the 
Calyx consists of 4 Sepals (fig. 1.), which are mostly deciduous, and often 
prominent at the base. The Corolla is composed of 4 Petals (fig. 2.), which 
are alternate with the sepals, and represent a cross. The Stamens are 6 in 
number (fig. 3.) of which 2 are shorter, opposite, and solitary, and sometimes 
furnished with a lateral tooth, or an interior scale ; and 4 longer in opposite 
pairs, generally distinct, but sometimes connate, or furnished with a tooth on 
the inside. The Nectaries are various green glands, situated upon the recepta- 
cle between the petals and the stamens and the germen. The Germen or Ovary 
is superior : the Style short or wanting ; and the Stigma is2-lobed, and perma- 
nent. The Fruit is either a long, strap-shaped, often more or less quadrangu- 
lar, or sometimes cylindrical Pod, containing many seeds, when it is termed a 
Siliqua ; or it is a short roundish pod or pouch, containing one, or very few 
seeds, when it is called a Silicula (fig. 4.) ; it is of 2 valves, and mostly of 2 
cells, with a parallel partition (placenta), which projects more or less at the 
summit. The valves separate at the base. In a few instances the fruit is of one 
valve, jointed, and not bursting. The Seeds are attached in a single row by a 
little stalk, called a funiculus, to each side of the placenta: (fig. 5.), and are 
generally pendulous, they have no Albumen. The Cotyledons and the Radicle 
are applied to each other in different ways, and afford characters on which M. 
Decandolce has founded his suborders of this very natural family — these will 
be explained hereafter. 
Those who wish for particular information on the Crucifera: will do well to 
peruse with attention a very masterly account of this order in Professor 
Linbley’s Introduction to the Natural System of Botany, pp. 14 to 18. 
