THE CABBAGE FAMILY 
27 
sistent). Pod short and broad, heart-shaped, with the lobes uppermost and the point at the base 
(inversely cordate), 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 numerous. 
A small genus, consisting of a few annual herbs, with their leaves entire or divided to the midrib. 
Common Shepherd’s Purse. (Bursa Bursa-pastoris, Weber.)— The only British 
species (as just described). Stem 4 inches to i| feet high ; the -root leaves in a rosette, stalked, 
deeply lobed to the midrib (pinnatifid), decaying early, and the stem leaves stalkless (sessile), 
oblong, clasping the stem (amplexicaul) with two narrow wings (auricles). \Plate 1 5. 
Very common. Everywhere. February — October. Annual. 
WART-CRESS. (CORONOPUS, RUPP .) — Flowers minute, white, in short clusters up the 
stems, opposite the leaves, lengthening in fruit. Sepals 4, spreading, not pouched ; petals 4 or o, 
entire ; stamens 6 or 4 or 2. Pod oval or kidney-shaped (reniform), notched at the apex, slightly 
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) or simply decaying to free the 
2 seeds. Branched, prostrate herbs, with leaves lobed to the midrib (pinnatifid). 
Lesser Wart-Cress, Swine-cress. (Coronopus didymus, Sm.)— As just described. 
The pods notched at the base and apex, and separating into 2 wrinkled lobes ; the stems 6 inches 
to 1 foot in length, creeping, numerous, slender, hairy, and the leaves deeply lobed to the 
midrib (pinnatifid), and again lobed in similar fashion (bi-pinnatifid). With a powerful smell 
of cress. \Plate 15. 
Common near the sea in the south-west of England. June — September. Annual. 
Common Wart-cress, or Swine’s-cress. (Coronopus Ruellii, All.)— A similar plant 
with larger pods, scarcely notched, but so wrinkled as to form a sort of crest round the edge ; 
stem less branched ; less divided leaves and no hairs. 
Common. Waysides, waste ground. June — September. Annual. 
PEPPERWORT. (LEPIDIUM, LINN.) — Flowers small, white, in short clusters (corymbs), 
lengthening in fruit. Sepals 4, short, not pouched ; petals 4 or o, equal, entire ; stamens 6, 2 or 4, 
sometimes absent ; carpels 2, style long or absent. Pod oval or round, more or less notched at 
the apex, flattened, the two sides sometimes projecting (winged), 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 to free the seeds (silicula). Seeds 1 — 2. Smooth or hairy herbs or undershrubs. 
Broad-leaved Pepperwort, Dittander. (Lepidium latifolium, Linn.)— The largest 
British species (as just described). Flowers about T V inch across, numerous, white, in numerous 
short clusters up and terminating the stem, so forming one long cluster ; the petals twice as long 
as the sepals ; the stamens 6 ; the style absent. Pods oval, neither notched nor winged ; stem 
2-4 feet high, erect and branched ; the root-leaves stalked, large, egg-shaped (ovate) and those of 
the stem broadly lance-shaped, 2-3 inches long, the upper stalkless (sessile), toothed or entire. 
Rare. In salt marshes. July — August. Perennial. 
Narrow-leaved Pepperwort. (Lepidium ruderale, Linn.) — As just described in the 
genus Pepperwort (Lepidium). The petals absent ; the stamens only 2 in number ; the pods small, 
nearly round, and winged at the top. The stem 6 inches to 1 foot high, branched, with the leaves 
of the root (radical) and lower stem deeply lobed to the midrib into narrow segments (pinnatifid), 
the upper ones usually entire, narrow, and straplike. 
Rare. Dry places near the sea. May — June. Annual. 
