786 TETRADYNAMIA. SILIQUOSA. Sinaj>is. 
S. al'ba. Pods hispid, tumid: beak very long, slanting, sword-shaped: 
(leaves wing-cleft. E.) 
Curt. 322—Blackw. 29—(E. Bot. 1677. E.) — Ger. Em. 244. 4— Pet. 45. 10 
— Fuchs. 538— J. B. ii. 856— Trag. 101. 1— Lonic. i. 164. 2 — Matth. 563 
— Docl. 707. 1— Lob. Obs. 100. 2, and Ic. i. 203. 1— Ger. Em. 244. 2—• 
II. Ox. iii. 3, row 1. 2. 
Pods turgid with the whitish seeds; beak scored, dark green, with a few 
hairs, (longer than the pod, and discriminative of the plant. E.) Stem 
twelve to eighteen inches high, strong, hard, nearly cylindrical, branched, 
set with strong hairs pointing downwards. Leaves nearly lyrate, rough 
with strong hairs, deeply divided, segments three or five, the terminal 
one very broad, large, toothed, and indented. Fruit-stalks set with 
strong reflexed hairs. Petals, limb inversely egg-shaped, yellow. 
( Calyx-leaves linear, green, horizental. Sm. E.) 
White Mustard. (Welsh: Cedu dd. E.) Corn-fields and road sides. 
A. June—Aug.* 
S. ni'gra. (Pods quadrangular, smooth, laid flat to the stalk: upper 
leaves linear-lanceolate, entire, smooth. E.) 
(E. Bot. 969. E.)— Woodv. 151— Blackw. 44 6—(FI. Dan. 1582—Pet. 45. 
ll.E.)—^. R. ii. 855. 
(Three or four feet high. Lower-leaves large, lyrate, rough. Pod with a 
very short beak, or rather only the persistent style and stigma at its sum¬ 
mit, its surface scarcely rugged. Hook. E.) Calyx yellow. Blossom pale 
yellow. 
The Rev. Dr. Goodenough in FI. Brit, remarks that this species may at 
once be distinguished from its congeners by the leaves of the lesser 
branches being pendulous. E.) 
Common Mustard. (Black Mustard. Welsh : Cedu gwyn. E.) Corn¬ 
fields, ditch banks, and road sides. A. June.f 
* It is sown in winter, or early in spring, and gathered young to supply our tables with 
salading. (On a warm border or hot-bed, it will be ready for use in about ten days. 
Columella elegantly denominates this, or the following “Jletum factura Sinapi the 
tear-creating Mustard; and Plautus, on account of its pungency, names it “ sccler at a 
Sinapi , the wicked Mustard. The seeds, (rather large and yellowish brown), have nearly 
the same properties as those of the next species, (by their acrimony and pungency 
stimulating the solids, and attenuating viscidjuices ; therefore deservedly recommended for 
exciting appetite, assisting digestion, promoting the fluid secretions, and for the other 
purposes of the acrid plants called antiscorbutic. But, recently, White Mustard seed has 
become so fashionable a remedy for restoring impaired constitutions, and strengthening the 
digestive organs, that its merits have been most unduly blazoned forth not only in every 
county of England, but on the Continent, where it appears to have succeeded to the medical 
honours of the Eau de Cologne. Let credulity beware of such idle and specious 
pretexts, though accompanied by the common place sophism “ifit produce no benefit, it 
will at least do no harm.” The use even of White Mustard seed requires judgment and 
discretion, and it would be well for those who may be advised to try the experiment, 
previously to refer to Gent. Mag. vol. xcviii. p. 6'18. E.) 
t The seeds, reduced to powder, make the common mustard so much in request as ’a 
condiment at our tables. They yield a considerable quantity of expressed oil, which 
partakes but little of the acrimony of the plant* The seeds, when unbruised, impart but 
little taste to boiling water. Taken inwardly, in the quantity of a meat spoonful or more, 
they gently relax the bowels, and are of service in asthma, chronic rheumatism, and palsy. 
I'he powdered seeds curdle milk, and give a strong impregnation to boiling water. The 
infusion taken in considerable quantity, vomits; (thus affording the most ready emetic. 
