28 
WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
•Common Garden Cress. (Lepidium sativum, Linn.)— Not a native. A similar 
plant to the narrow-leaved Pepperwort (Lepidium ruderale), with the petals twice as long as the 
sepals ; 6 stamens ; and notched winged pods. The common Cress of our gardens ; used as a 
salad with White Mustard (Brassica alba). 
Not uncommon. An escape from gardens. Rubbish heaps. June — August. Annual. 
Field Pepperwort, Mithridate Pepperwort. (Lepidium eampestre, R.Br.)— 
Flowers small ^ inch across, white ; the petals a little longer than the sepals ; the 6 stamens 
with yellow anthers ; the pods oval, rough with minute scales, notched at the apex, with a short 
style not longer than the notch, winged. Stem 10-12 inches high, solitary, erect, hairy, the upper 
part branched ; the leaves of the root (radical) in a rosette, stalked, oblong, tapering to the base 
(spatulate), entire or toothed ; and those of the stem stalkless (sessile), lance-shaped, entire or 
toothed, clasping the stem at the base with sharp narrow lobes (sagittate or arrow-shaped). 
Common. Waysides, cultivated fields. May — August. Biennial. 
Hairy Pepperwort. (Lepidium hirtum, Sm.) — A very similar plant, but having stamens 
with violet anthers, pods without scales, and a style longer than the notches. \Plate 15. 
Common. Cultivated fields and waste places. May — August. Annual. 
•Whitlow Pepperwort, or Hoary Peppercress. (Lepidium Draba, Linn.)— Not a 
native. Another similar plant to the Field Pepperwort (Lepidium eampestre), with the flowers 
larger ; the pods heart-shaped, crowned with the long persistent style, and the leaves broader. 
Not uncommon, but not a native. Fields, waste ground. June — August. Perennial. 
PENNY-CRESS. (THLASPI, LINN.) — Flowers small, white, rose, or purple, in short clusters 
lengthening in fruit. Sepals 4, not pouched ; petals 4, entire or slightly notched ; stamens 6, in 
pairs, one pair shorter than the other two ; carpels 2, the style short or long. Pod short, oval or 
round, flattened, notched, the sides expanded into a wing, 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), which are from 2-8 in each cell. Smooth herbs with usually 
undivided leaves, the upper clasping the stem (amplexicaul). 
Field Penny-cress, Mithridate Mustard. (Thlaspi arvense, Linn.)— As just 
described. The flowers small, white, the petals longer than the sepals ; the pods large, roundish, 
about J inch across, including the wing ; the stem 1-2 feet high, simple or slightly branched ; the 
leaves of the root oblong, stalked, soon disappearing, and those of the stem oblong, with toothed or 
entire margins, stalkless (sessile), clasping the stem with 2 sharp lobes. The whole plant smooth 
(glabrous) with a slight bluish bloom (glaucous). \Plate 15. 
Rather rare. Cultivated fields. May— October. Annual. 
Perfoliate Penny-cress. (Thlaspi perfoliatum, Linn.)— A similar plant with minute 
flowers ; pods heart-shaped, with the point at the base (inversely cordate) ; the stems shorter 
and the leaves of the stem heart-shaped at the base, clasping the stem, but not truly united 
round it. 
Very rare. Local. Stony ground, waste places on limestone. April — May. Annual. 
Alpine Penny-cress. (Thlaspi alpestre, Linn.) — Another similar plant with small 
flowers, simple stem, 6-10 inches high, stem-leaves arrow-shaped at the base. 
Rare. Mountainous pastures. May — July. Biennial. 
This species has 3 very rare varieties, Thlaspi sylvestre, Jord., with pinkish flowers and violet 
anthers, found in the north ; Thlaspi OCCitanum, Jord., with lilac flowers, found in Yorkshire 
and Wales; and Thlaspi Virens, Jord., with paler flowers and purplish sepals, found at Matlock. 
