40 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
grows in woods and shady places ; but it is by no means common, and even when seen, it might easily be 
mistaken for the British species of Stock. There is, however, an important difference, which is, that there is 
generally a little bulb formed in the axil of each leaf, which will become a plant if removed to the earth. The 
underground stem, also, is decidedly different from that of every other kind of Cruciferous plant. 
II.—THE ALYSSUM TRIBE. 
The plants belonging to this division have a short pod or silicle, which opens longitudinally when ripe, and 
has flat or concave valves, the partition between which is broad, oval and membranous. The seeds are 
compressed and often bordered. 
GENUS IX. 
THE SWEET ALYSSUM. (Glyce, Lindl) 
Lin. Syst. TETRADYNAMIA SILICULOSA. 
Generic Character— Silicula nearly ovate ; valves flattish ; cells I Seeds usually bordered. Calyx spreading. Petals entire. Hypogynous 
one-seeded ; the umbilical cords adhering by the base to the septum. I glands eight. Filaments not toothed. ( R. Brown.) 
Description, &c. —There is only one species in this genus, and that is the common Sweet Alyssum of the 
gardens, a plant which has had a great many botanical names, the last of which, given to it by Dr. Lindley, 
is Glyce ; and is, I suppose, derived from the Greek word Glykys , signifying sweet. The plant was called the 
Sweet Alyssum from its being formerly included in the genus Alyssum or Madwort; and being the only 
fragrant species ; the flowers having a peculiarly sweet, and honey-like smell. 
1.—THE COMMON SWEET ALYSSUM. (Glyce maritima, Lindl.) 
Synonymes. —Alyssum maritimum, Willd. ; A. minimum, Lin. ; 
A. halimifolium, Ait.; Koniga maritima, It. Brown; Clypeola 
maritima, Smith. 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1729; 2d ed., t. 919. 
Specific Character. —Stem procumbent, suffruticose. 
lanceolate-linear, acute, entire. (Lin.) 
Leaves 
Description, &c. —This plant is well known in gardens, where it is generally treated as an annual, though 
in a state of nature it becomes shrubby, or at least suffruticose. It is found wild on cliffs and in stony places in 
various parts of Devonshire and Cornwall, and also near Aberdeen in Scotland. The flowers are white, and 
are in long, close, terminal, erect racemes. It has been already observed that the flowers are very fragrant, and 
it may be added that they continue in blossom from July to September. The plant grows in any soil and 
situation, however inland it may be ; though the wild plant is never found at any great distance from the ocean. 
GENUS X. 
THE WHITLOW-GRASS. (Draba, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. TETRADYNAMIA SILICULOSA. 
Generic Character. —Silicula sessile, oval or oblong; valves flat or convex. Seeds numerous, not margined. Calyx equal. Petals 
entire. All the stamens without teeth. (Dec.) 
Description, &c. —The plants belonging to this order are generally small and insignificant; but most of 
the kinds are abundant in every part of Great Britain. The common Whitlow-Grass (Draba verna) has been 
separated from the others by some botanists, and made a new genus under the name of Erophila, on account 
