WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
opening from base to apex by 2 valves (silicula), with four seeds, 2 in each cell. Small annuals, 
with the root leaves in a rosette, fading quickly, and numerous stem leaves, all narrow and deeply 
lobed to the midrib (pinnatifid) into narrow segments. 
Rock Hutchinsia. (Hutchinsia petrsea, R.Br.)— The only British species, as just 
described, the stem being 2-5 inches high. 
Rare. Limestone rocks, chiefly in the west of England. March — May. Annual. 
*WOAD. (ISATIS, LINN.) — Not a native. Flowers small, numerous, yellow, terminating the 
stem and branches so as to form a flat branched cluster (compound corymb). Sepals 4, spreading ; 
petals 4, shortly clawed ; stamens 6, in pairs, one pair shorter than the other two ; carpels 2, style 
absent. Pod short, broad, flattened, broadly winged, without the usual partition dividing it, and 
so only i-celled and i-seeded, not opening by valves, but decaying to free the seed. Herbs with 
undivided leaves, the upper ones clasping the stem (amplexicaul) and arrow-shaped at the base 
(sagittate). 
*Dyers’ Woad. (Isatis tinctoria.) — Not a native (as just described). The flowers 
about £ inch across, both sepals and petals yellow ; the stem 2-4 feet high, branched at the top ; 
the leaves of the root (radical) oblong, toothed and stalked, and the upper ones stalkless, clasping 
the stem and arrow-shaped at the base. The whole plant is smooth and has a bluish bloom 
(glaucous). The ancient Britons stained themselves with the juice of this plant. It is still 
cultivated on account of its colouring properties, which are either blue or a poor black. [Plate 14. 
Rare, local. Cultivated fields, chalk pits; well established at Tewkesbury. July — August. 
Biennial. 
*ALYSSUM, LINN . — Not a native genus. Flowers white or yellow, in short clusters, lengthening 
in fruit. Sepals 4 ; petals 4, with short claws ; stamens 6, in pairs, one pair shorter than the other 
two ; carpels 2, the style being short or long, and remaining with the fruit (persistent). Pod short, 
roundish or oval, flattened, 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 (silicula) ; seeds r-4 
in each cell. Woody herbs or under-shrubs, much branched and covered with simple or star-like 
hairs ; the leaves entire and narrow. 
*Small Alyssum. (Alyssum calycinum, Linn.)— As just described. The flowers 
small, inch across, pale yellow ; the pods nearly round, slightly notched, containing 1 or 2 seeds 
in each cell ; the stems 3-6 inches long, woody, and the leaves stalkless, narrow, and tapering at 
the base. 
Rare. An escape from cultivation. Sides of fields and waste places. June — August. Annual. 
*Sweet Alyssum. (Alyssum maritimum, Linn.)— A similar but larger plant (as 
described above) with sweetly scented, white flowers, about \ inch across ; the pod oval, not 
notched, containing only 1 seed in each cell; the woody stem 4-12 inches long, and the leaves 
narrowly lance-shaped, tapering at the base or slightly stalked. [Plate 14. 
Rather rare. An escape from cultivation. Walls and waste places near the sea. Flowers all the 
summer. Annual or perennial. 
* Alyssum incanum, Linn. — This species has been found occasionally in the south of 
England, but very rarely. It has yellow flowers, and longer pods with more seeds. 
WHITLOW-GRASS. (DRABA, LINN.) — Flowers small, white or yellow, growing in short 
flat clusters (corymbs), lengthening in fruit. Sepals 4, short, not pouched ; petals 4, sometimes 
notched, with short claws ; stamens 6, in pairs, one pair shorter than the other two ; carpels 2, 
