WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
16 
inches long, round and jointed ; the stem 1-2 feet high, branched ; the lower leaves lobed to the 
mid-rib, with the terminal lobe the largest (lyrately-pinnatifid), the upper lance-shaped and toothed. 
Very common. Corn-fields, cultivated ground. June — August. Annual. [Plate 11. 
Sea Radish. (Raphanus maritimus, Sra.) — A similar species with smaller flowers, 
which are yellow, rarely white, more distinctly jointed pods, and leaves more deeply cut into 
more numerous lobes. 
Rare. Sea cliff’s in the south and west. July — August. Biennial. 
WATER-CRESS. (NASTURTIUM, LINN.) — Flowers small, yellow or white, in long or flat 
clusters (racemes or corymbs). Sepals 4, erect or spreading, not pouched ; petals 4, entire, with 
very short claws ; stamens 6, in pairs, one pair shorter than the other two ; carpels 2, with the 
style so short as to appear absent, stigmas clustered. Fruit-pods usually long, narrow, round, 
divided lengthwise into 2 cells by a thin partition, to either side of which the seeds are attached, 
the shell opening from base to apex by 2 valves (siliqua) ; the seeds in two rows in each cell. 
Herbs with leaves lobed or divided to the mid-rib (pinnatifid or pinnate). 
Common Water-cress. (Nasturtium officinale, R.Br.)— As just described. The 
4 petals white, and twice as long as the sepals ; the fruit-pods short, about f inch long, and 
slightly curved, with the seeds in two distinct rows in each cell. The stem 1-3 feet high, much 
branched, smooth, hollow, juicy, and brittle, creeping or sometimes floating in shallow water ; 
the leaf-stalks solid and the leaves divided to the mid-rib into 2 or 3 pairs of roundish or egg- 
shaped leaflets with one terminal leaflet (imparipinnate). Cultivated for salad. [ Plate 11. 
Common. Shallow streams, ditches. June — August. Perennial. 
Creeping- Yellow Cress. (Nasturtium sylvestre, R.Br.)— As described in the genus 
Water-cress (Nasturtium). The petals yellow, twice as long as the sepals ; the fruit-pods similar 
to the Common Water-cress, but narrower, and with the seeds in 2 very irregular rows in both 
cells ; the stem r-2 feet high, creeping at the base, brittle, and the leaves deeply lobed to the 
mid-rib (pinnatifid), the lower lobes being narrow. 
Not common. Watery places. June — September. Perennial. 
Marsh Yellow Cress. (Nasturtium palustre, DC.)— A similar species to the 
Creeping Yellow Cress (Nasturtium sylvestre), differing in the yellow petals being no longer than 
the sepals, in the fruit-pod being oval or oblong, with the seeds in 2 distinct rows in both cells, 
and in the deeply lobed leaves having the terminal lobe the largest (lyrate). 
Not common. Watery places. June — October. Perennial. 
Great Yellow Cress, Amphibious Yellow Cress. (Nasturtium amphibium, 
R.Br .) — A somewhat similar species. The flowers bright yellow, ^ inch across, with the petals 
twice as long as the sepals, and the style longer than in other species ; the fruit-pods very short, 
^-inch long, oval, with 2 distinct rows of seeds in both cells ; the stem 2-4 feet high, erect, and 
the leaves oblong, toothed, serrate, or slightly lobed towards the mid-rib (pinnatifid). 
Not common. Watery plac es, banks of rivers. June — September. Perennial. 
WINTER CRESS. (BARBAREA, R.Br.) — Flowers yellow, in short, flat clusters, lengthening 
in fruit. Sepals 4, the side ones sometimes slightly pouched at the base (gibbous) ; petals 4, 
bright yellow, with longish claws ; stamens 6, in 3 pairs, one pair shorter than the other two ; 
carpels 2, the seedcase crowned with a short style and an entire or slightly 2-lobed stigma. Pod 
long, narrow, straight, compressed, 4-angled, divided lengthwise into 2 cells by a thin partition, to 
either side of which the seeds are attached, the shell opening from base to apex by 2 valves 
(siliqua), the seeds being in 1 row in each cell. Herbs with angular stems and shining leaves, the 
