THE CABBAGE FAMILY 
2 I 
the upper part branched, and the leaves lance-shaped and slightly toothed. The whole plant 
covered with star-like hairs. 
Rare, local. Cultivated fields. June — August. Biennial. 
*Hare’s-ear Treaele-mustard. (Erysimum perfoliatum, Crantz.)— Not a native; 
occurring as an escape from cultivation in the south of England. The flowers are cream-coloured, 
about J inch across ; the stem 8-18 inches high ; the leaves of the root stalked and oblong, and 
those of the stem oval and clasping the stem (amplexicaul) ; the whole plant hairless (glabrous) and 
covered with a bluish bloom (glaucous). 
Rare. Occurring occasionally in cultivated and waste ground in the south and east of 
England, but not permanently naturalised. May — July. Annual. 
CABBAGE, TURNIP, MUSTARD, RAPE, CHARLOCK, NAVEW. (BRASSICA, LINN.) 
— Flowers yellow, in clusters, lengthening in fruit. Sepals 4, with the 2 side ones sometimes 
pouched at the base ; petals with long claws ; stamens 6, in pairs, one pair being shorter than the 
other two ; carpels 2, the style remaining and terminating the fruit-pod (persistent), the stigma 
2-lobed. Pods long, narrow, more or less round, beaked at the tip with the style, 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 both cells. Herbs 
with various shaped leaves, the different species being parents of some of our most useful 
vegetables. 
Wild Cabbage, Sea Cabbage. (Brassica oleracea, Linn.)— As just described. 
Flowers large, nearly 1 inch across, pale yellow, in long clusters. Pods inches or more long, 
narrow, round, shortly beaked. Stem 1-2 feet high, the main stem being very thick and woody, 
the branches straggling and fleshy ; the leaves smooth, with a bluish bloom (glaucous), those 
of the root (radical) stalked, broadly oval, wavy (sinuate) or lobed at the base; the upper 
ones oblong, entire, clasping the stem with their broad bases but not with projecting lobes. This 
plant is the parent of our garden Cabbages, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Kale, &c. 
Uncommon, local. Abundant on sea-cliffs in Kent and on our south-west coasts. June — Septem- 
ber. Perennial or biennial. 
*Rape, Navew, Coleseed. (Brassica Napus, Linn.) — An escape from cultivation. 
Flowers § inch across, bright yellow, in a short cluster (corymb), lengthening in fruit. [As 
described in the genus Cabbage, &c. (Brassica)]. Pods 2-3 inches long, with a long beak, 
slightly constricted between the seeds. Stem ii-2 feet high, with the root leaves lobed towards 
the mid-rib, the terminal lobe being the largest (lyrate), and the stem leaves heart-shaped 
(cordate) at the base and clasping the stem (amplexicaul), the lower ones slightly lobed or wavy, 
and the upper entire and lance-shaped. The whole plant covered with a bluish bloom (glaucous), 
and the root tapering (fusiform). This species is much grown for the sake of the colza oil which 
is pressed from its seeds, which are then used as oil cake for cattle. 
Common. An escape in cultivated ground. May — June. Annual. 
*Swede. (Brassica Rutabaga, DC.) — Not a native. A similar species to the last, 
differing in having hairy radical leaves and an enlarged root, which when cultivated is often used 
as a food for cattle. 
An escape in cultivated ground. 
Wild Turnip. (Brassica Rapa, Linn.) — Flowers and pods much like those of the Wild 
Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), but the petals are usually of a deeper yellow ; the stem 1 — 2 feet 
high, usually simple, erect ; the lower leaves more or less lobed from the midrib (pinnatifid), with 
