BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
41 
of its petals being cloven to the base; while those of the other species of Draba are entire, or, at most, only 
slightly notched. The name of Draba is derived from a Greek word signifying acrid, in allusion to the 
properties of the plant ; and Whitlow-Grass has reference to the leaves being considered extremely efficacious 
in curing Whitlows, by drawing them to a head. 
1.—THE COMMON WHITLOW-GRASS. (Draba verna, Lin.') 
Synonyme. —Erophila vulgaris, Dee. i Specific Character. —Leaves lanceolate, hairy, slightly toothed. 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot. t. 586 ; 2nd ed., t. 914. | Scapes naked. Petals deeply cloven. [Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This little plant is an annual, which is common in every part of Great Britain. It 
flowers in March and April; and it was from its time of flowering that De Candolle gave the new genus, of 
which it is the type, the name of Erophila, or Lover of the Spring. The flower and seed-pod wither away as 
soon as the seed is ripe and has burst from the pod; but the dry flower-stalks, with the membranous partitions 
of the seed-vessels, remain, and have a very curious appearance nearly all the summer. The flowers are very 
small and white, and the raceme is zigzag. The leaves form a tuft, growing only from the crown of the root. 
2.—THE YELLOW WHITLOW GRASS. (Draba aizoides, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1271 ; 2nd ed., t. 915 ; and our fig. I notched, twice the length of the calyx. Leaves lanceolate, rigid, 
1., in PI. 10. I keeled, fringed. [Smith.) 
Specific Character. —Stalks solitary, naked. Petals slightly I 
Description, &c.— This is a beautiful little rock plant which grows wild on walls and rocks in South 
Wales, and some other parts of Great Britain. The plant is branched from the root, and grows in dense moss¬ 
like tufts. The leaves are crowded together, and placed like scales in a pyramidal form. The flower-stalks are 
from one to two inches long, and one springs from the centre of each tuft of leaves. The leaves are evergreen, 
and curiously fringed ; and the flowers, which are of a rich golden yellow, appear in March and April. 
THE ROCK WHITLOW-GRASS. (D. rupestris, R. Br.) 
This species is found occasionally on the mountains in Scotland. It is a dwarf perennial plant, seldom 
growing more than two inches high. The flowers are white, and they appear in May and June. 
THE GREY, OR TWISTED-PODDED WHITLOW-GRASS. (D. incana, Smith.) 
This species is common on lime-stone rocks in every part of Great Britain, and it varies from a few inches to 
more than a foot in height. The flowers are small and white, and the seed pods curiously twisted. 
THE WALL, OR SPEEDWELL-LEAVED WHITLOW-GRASS. (D. muralis, Smith.) 
This plant grows wild on lime-stone rocks and old walls in various parts of the kingdom. It is an annual, 
with small white flowers, which appear in April and May. 
G 
