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BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
GENUS III. 
THE WATER-CRESS. (Nasturtium, R. Brown.) 
Lin. Syst. TETRADYNAMIA SILIQUOSA. 
Generic Character. —Siliqua nearly taper, shortened, or declinate. Stigma almost two-lobed. Calyx equal at the base, spreading. Seeds 
small, irregularly attached in two rows, not bordered. {Dec.) 
Description, &c. —The common Water-cress is easily known by its leaves, and, indeed, it is seldom 
permitted to flower, as the young shoots are generally gathered for the table, as fast as they unfold. The flowers, 
when they do appear, are small and white, but inconspicuous. There are three other species of this genus, all of 
which have yellow flowers. One of these, the creeping Wood-Cress, ( N. sylvestris ,) is rather pretty, from the 
great number of its bright yellow flowers. This species is easily known from the others by its creeping stem, 
the deeply-cut leaflets of its pinnate leaves, and its zigzag racemes of flowers, the latter peculiarity being most 
striking when the plant is in seed. The name of Nasturtium is said to be derived from two Latin words, 
Nasus tortus, a twitched-up nose, from the effect supposed to be produced on the countenance by the acrid and 
pungent qualities of these plants when eaten. The garden Nasturtium is so called, from its stem and leaves 
tasting like the Water-Cress, though it does not bear any botanical relationship to that plant. Culpeper recom¬ 
mends the Water-Cress as a good remedy to cleanse the blood in spring, and to “ consume the gross humours 
winter hath left behind.” He also says that the juice of the herb, if it be “ mixed with vinegar, and the fore¬ 
part of the head bathed therewith, is very good for those that are dull and drowsie, or have the Lethargy.” 
GENUS IV. 
THE WINTER-CRESS. (Barrarea, R. Brown.) 
Lin. Syst. TETRADYNAMIA SILIQUOSA. 
Generic Character. —Siliqua with four angles, slightly compressed : the valves not pointed at the apex, concave, keeled. Calyx equal at the 
base. {Dec.) 
Description, &c. —There are only two species of this genus, and the handsomest is by far the most common. 
The plant was formerly dedicated to St. Barbara, and hence the name. 
1.—THE COMMON WINTER-CRESS, OR WINTER ROCKET. (Barbarea vulgaris, R. Brown.) 
Synonymes. —Erysimum Barbarea, Lin. ; Belleisle Cress. I Specific Character. —Lower leaves lyrate, the terminal lobe 
Engravings. — Eng. Bot., t. 443 ; 2d ed., t. 933. | roundish; upper obovate, toothed. {Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This species is well known, as it is common on hedge-banks and road-sides in every part 
of England. The leaves are of a very dark shining green, and strongly veined. The flowers are of a bright 
golden yellow, and are produced in great abundance. The yellow Rocket, a well-known garden flower, is only 
a double flowered variety of this species. The wild plant is a perennial, and grows from one to three feet high, 
according to the nature of the soil. 
2.—THE EARLY WINTER-CRESS. (B. piuecox, Smith.) 
This plant has very small flowers and remarkably long seed-pods. It is found wild occasionally by road¬ 
sides and ditches; but it is supposed not to be a true native. It is cultivated in the kitchen garden, and 
frequently used as a spring salad. 
