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BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
V.—THE HEDGE-MUSTARD TRIBE. 
Seed-pod a two-celled silique, opening lengthwise; valves concave or keeled. Seeds ovate or oblong, 
not bordered. 
GENUS XYI. 
THE GARDEN-ROCKET, OR DAME’S VIOLET. (Hesperis, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. TETRAD YN AMI A SILIQUOSA. 
Generic Character. —Siliqua nearly taper, or somewhat four-cornered. Stigmas two, erect, converging. Calyx with two sacs at the base 
Seeds oblong, somewhat three-cornered. Stamens without teeth. (Dec.) 
Description, &c. —Only one species of this genus has been found wild in England. The name of Hesperis 
is derived from the Latin word for evening, because the flowers generally become fragrant at night. 
1. —THE GARDEN-ROCKET. (Hesperis matronalis, Lin.) 
Synonyme.— H. inodora, Lin. \ Leaves ovate-lanceolate, toothed. Stem upright, slightly branched. 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 731 ; 2nd ed., t. 949. ; Pods smooth, irregularly tumid, equilateral, nearly erect. (Smith.) 
Specific Character _Partial flower-stalks, the length of the calyx. 
Description, &c. —This plant, though suspected not to be a true native, has been found wild in England 
for nearly three hundred years; and it appears to have been one of the first plants cultivated in gardens. In the 
feudal times, the garden was generally in the inner court of the castle, it being dangerous to venture beyond the 
walls; and here the ladies of a baronial family amused themselves by cultivating the few flowers then known, 
while their husbands or brothers were engaged in war. The Hesperis matronalis appears to have been a favourite 
flower for this purpose, as it is still often found springing wild and neglected among the crumbling walls of a 
ruined castle ; and, hence, its name of Dame’s Violet is easily accounted for. 
The Sea and Garden-Rockets were formerly much esteemed in medicine ; and among the numerous virtues 
attributed to their seeds, we find that when bruised and mixed with honey they were esteemed an excellent 
cosmetic, and that when the gall of an ox was added it was believed that they would even remove the marks 
of the small-pox. Another still more extraordinary quality was attributed to them by Pliny, who says— 
“ whosoever cheweth the seeds of the Rocket before he is whipped, shall not feel the pains thereof.” 
GENUS XVII. 
THE HEDGE-MUSTARD. (Sisymbrium, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. TETRADYNAMIA SILIQUOSA. 
Generic Character. —Siliqua nearly taper, sessile on a torus. Stigmas two, nearly distinct, or combined in a head. Calyx equal at base. 
Seeds ovate or oblong. Cotyledons flat, incumbent, sometimes oblique. Stamens without teeth. (Dec.) 
Description, &c. —All the plants belonging to this genus are weeds which are found in most parts of the 
world, though most abuudantly in the temperate regions. They are all annuals or biennials; and the flowers, 
which are generally yellow, are small, and without beauty. The name of Sisymbrium is derived from a Greek 
word signifying fringe; in allusion to the roots, the fibres of which are so fine as to look like fringe. 
