BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
39 
2.— THE BITTER-CRESS. (Cardamine amara, Smith.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1000 ; 2d ed., t. 926 ; and our fig. 3, the lowermost roundish ; of the rest toothed or angular. Stem creep- 
in PI. 9. ing at the base. Style obliquely elongated. (Smith.) 
Specific Character. —Leaves pinnate, without stipulas ; leaflets of 
Description, &c.— This plant is generally found growing in ditches, or on the margins of rivulets or ponds. 
When it is found in an open meadow, it is a sign that the ground is marshy. The flowers bear considerable 
resemblance to those of the last species in their form ; but they differ decidedly in colour, as they have a 
yellowish tinge, and never the slightest shade of pink, or purple. It is a very handsome perennial plant, 
and it flowers in April and May. 
THE ALPINE CRESS. (C. bellidifolia, Smith.) 
This is a veiy doubtful native. It is common on the Alps of Switzerland; but it has only been found in 
two places in the British Isles, viz., one in Scotland, and one in Ireland. It is a pretty little dwarf plant, 
growing in tufts; and when neither in flower nor seed, it very much resembles a Daisy. 
THE NARROW-LEAVED BITTER-CRESS. (C. impatiens, Smith.) 
This species is very common in moist shady places in Derbyshire, Westmoreland and Cumberland. The 
flowers are very small and inconspicuous; but the valves of the ripe seed-pods fly back with great force when 
touched, and scatter the seeds to a considerable distance. The plant is an annual, and it flowers in May and 
June. 
THE HAIRY BITTER-CRESS. (C. hirsuta, Lin.) 
This is an annual of no beauty, flowering from March to June, and growing in moist and shady places in 
almost every part of the kingdom. 
GENUS VIII. 
THE CORAL-ROOT. (Dentaria, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. TETRAD YN AMI A SILIQUOSA. 
Generic Character. —Siliqua lanceolate ; valves flat, without ribs, often dehiscing with elasticity ; placenta; not winged. Umbilical 
cords broad. Seeds ovate, not bordered, in one row. (Dec.) 
Description, &c. —There is only one species belonging to this genus, a native of Great Britain ; but there 
are several, natives of North America. They have all fleshy or tuberous roots, or rather, underground stems, 
which are covered with toothlike scales ; and hence the botanic name Dentaria, which is derived from dens, a 
tooth. The name of Coral-root, or Coral-wort, also alludes to the underground stem, which, in the British 
species, is much branched, and, when dry, bears considerable resemblance to coral. The flavour of all the plants 
belonging to this genus is extremely pungent; and a white-flowered species, which is common in America, is 
known in that country by the name of Pepper-wort. The underground stems are also used in America, when 
ground, instead of mustard. 
1.—THE COMMON CORAL-ROOT. (Dentaria bulbifera, Lin.) 
Synonymes. —Cardamine bulbifera, Br.; Coral-wort. Specific Character. —Lower leaves pinnated ; upper simple, with 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 309 ; 2nd ed., t. 921 ; and our fig. 1, axillary bulbs. (Lindley.) 
in PI. 9. 
Description, &c. —This species is found in various parts of Sussex and Middlesex, and among the rocks at 
Tonbridge Wells. It has also been found on the banks of the Esk, near Dalkeith, in Scotland. It generally 
