1 8 WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
high, the leaves of the root (radical) oval, wavy or toothed at the edges, hairy, in a rosette, those of 
the stem without stalks, the upper ones half clasping the stem (semi-amplexicaul). 
Very rare, local. Limestone rocks at Bristol and Cheddar. April — May. Perennial. 
Fringed Rock Cress. (Arabis ciliata, R.Br.)— Very similar to the Hairy Rock Cress 
(Arabis hirsuta), but the flowers rather larger, the stem only 4-6 inches high, and the leaves oval 
and smooth except at the edges, which are fringed with forked hairs. 
Very rare, local. Rocks by the sea near Tenby. July — August. Biennial. 
Hairy Rock Cress. (Arabis hirsuta, Scop.) — As described in the genus Rock Cress 
(Arabis). The flowers small and white ; the pods slender, 1-2 inches long ; the stems about 
1 foot high, hairy, leafy ; and the leaves egg-shaped (ovate), toothed or entire, the upper ones 
heart-shaped at the base and slightly clasping the stem (semi-amplexicaul). \Plate 12. 
Common. Dry banks, walls. June — August. Biennial. 
*Tower Rock Cress, Hairy Tower Mustard. (Arabis Turrita, Linn.)— Not a native. 
Flowers very pale yellow, large, f inch across ; the pods narrow, curved downwards. [As described 
in the genus Rock Cress (Arabis).] The stem 1-2 feet high, nearly simple, stiff and hairy, and the 
leaves of the stem oblong, lance shaped, clasping the stem (amplexicaul), all toothed. 
Very rare. Old walls at Oxford and Cambridge. May — July. Perennial. 
Smooth Rock Cress, Smooth Tower Mustard. (Arabis perfoliata, Lam.) — A 
somewhat similar species, with the flowers ^ inch across, cream- to pale straw-colour, the petals 
erect; the pods long, narrow, and erect, with 2 rows of seeds in both cells : the stem 1-2 feet high, 
simple, erect, and the leaves of the root (radical) oblong, lobed or toothed, hairy, soon withering, 
those of the stem entire, oblong, clasping the stem with pointed lobes. 
Rare, local. Banks and waysides. May — June. Biennial or annual. 
BITTER CRESS. (CARD AMINE, LINN.) — Flowers lilac or white, in flat clusters, lengthening 
in fruit. Sepals 4, spreading, not pouched ; petals 4, with long claws ; stamens 6, in pairs, one 
pair being shorter than the other two ; carpels 2, with usually a short style and an entire or 
2-lobed stigma. Fruit-pod long, narrow, flattened, elastic, divided lengthwise into 2 cells by a 
thin partition (siliqua), to either side of which the seeds are attached, the shell opening suddenly 
from the base by 2 valves which roll backwards and scatter the seeds to some distance. Herbs 
with leaves undivided (simple) or divided from the mid-rib into distinct leaflets (pinnate). 
Large-flowered Bitter Cress. (Cardamine amara, Linn.)— As just described. 
Flowers J inch across, delicate white, in a loose terminal cluster (raceme), the sepals being 
purplish and spreading ; the stamens with purple anthers ; the stem 1-2 feet high, branched, 
zig-zag, and all the leaves divided to the midrib into 2 or 3 pairs of roundish, toothed, irregular 
leaflets with one terminal one (imparipinnate). The whole plant is of a fresh shining green, 
smooth or slightly hairy. [ Plate 12. 
Fairly common. Sides of streams. April — June. Perennial. 
Cuckoo Flower, Meadow Ladies’ Smock. (Cardamine pratensis, Linn.) — Flowers 
J-f inch across, delicate lilac or white, in a more or less flat terminal cluster (raceme) ; the sepals 
tinged with purple ; the petals delicately veined with a darker lilac, and the stamens with yellow 
anthers. The pod round, 1-1J inches long. [As described in the genus Bitter Cress 
(Cardamine).] The stem 1-2 feet high; the root (radical) leaves in a loose rosette, divided to 
the mid-rib into 4-12 pairs of roundish, angular leaflets with one terminal one (imparipinnate), 
and those of the stem similarly divided into narrow (linear) entire leaflets. \Plate 12. 
Very common. Wet meadows. April — June. Perennial. 
