BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
47 
1.— THE COMMON HEDGE-MUSTARD. (Sisymbrium officinale, Scopoli.) 
Synonyme. —Erysimum officinale, Lin. 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 735 ; 2nd ed., t. 939 ; and our fig. 2, 
in PI. 11. 
Specific Character. —Pods pressed close to the main stalk, awl- 
shaped, downy. Leaves runcinate, hairy. Stem rough, with rcflexed 
bristles. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This is one of the commonest of the British weeds, and it is easily known by its long 
spreading flower-stems, which are completely covered with its short, closely-pressed seed-pods, each stem 
terminating in a cluster of very small yellow flowers. The leaves are very much cut, being sometimes lyrate, 
and sometimes arrow-shaped, with a terminal lobe, much larger than the others, which often curve backwards 
towards the stem. The plant is only an annual; but when the leaves are broken off, they show several threads 
of strong woody fibre, passing through the midrib to the stem. 
THE LONDON ROCKET. (S. Irio, Lin.) 
This is a very singular plant, which sprang up in such abundance in London after the great fire of 1666, as 
to cover the ruins. It is still found occasionally in deserted spots or growing on old walls in London; but it has 
not as yet been discovered in any other locality. It is very different from the common Hedge-Mustard, from the 
great length of its seed-pods, and their standing erect apart from the stem, instead of being pressed closely 
against it. The flowers are small and yellow, and they appear in July and August. The plant is an annual, and 
when chewed it has the flavour of mustard. 
THE FLIXWEED. (S. Sophia, Lin.) 
This species is very common in waste places all over England, particularly among rubbish where lime has 
been used. The flowers are very small, and have no beauty; but the leaves are finely and delicately cut. The 
pods are not so long as those of the London Rocket, though they are much longer than those of the common 
Hedge-Mustard. This plant was formerly very much prized in medicine, particularly in dysentery, or in any 
disease that requires an astringent. The old herbalists add, that it has the power to consolidate and heal 
“bones broken or out of joint;” and Culpeper strongly recommends that for its power in curing broken bones 
alone, syrups, ointments, and plasters of it should be kept in every house. 
THE THALE-CRESS. (S. thalianum, Hook.) 
This is a very common plant on walls and cottage-roofs. The flowers are very small and white, and 
resemble those of an Arabis, in which genus, indeed, it is placed by Linnmus. It is an annual, flowering in 
April and May. 
GENUS XVIII. 
JACK BY THE HEDGE, OR SAUCE ALONE. (Alliaria, Adanson.) 
Lin. Syst. TETRADYNAMIA SILIQUOSA. 
Generic Character. —Siliqua nearly taper, somewhat four-cornered, in consequence of its projecting ribs. Calyx lax. Seeds rather cylindrical. 
Cotyledons linear-oblong, flat. (Dec.) 
Description, &c. —There is only one British species in this genus, which has been separated from Erysimum 
principally on account of the difference in the formation of its calyx. The name of Alliaria signifies garlic, and 
alludes to the strong smell of the plant. 
