[Illustration: WHITLOW-GRASS PEPPERGRASS]
Annual or perennial herbs; sepals 4; petals 4, standing opposite each
other in a square cross; stamens, 4 long and 2 short; fruit a special
pod called a silique.
Wedge-Leaved Whitlow-Grass (_Draba cuneifolia_) is so small that it
might be overlooked if it bloomed at any other time than early spring.
Growing from a cluster of basal leaves, the stems are topped by the
cluster of small, alyssum-like flowers. It grows throughout the Southern
United States and Mexico.
Alyssum-Flowered Peppergrass (_Lepidium alyssoides_) is a low bushy
perennial plant with numerous clusters of small white flowers. It grows
in the western part of the state, ranging to Arizona and Colorado. Many
other peppergrasses are found in the state, some with inconspicuous
flowers, but all having the small, flat, roundish seed-pod which is
usually notched above. The foliage and pods have an aromatic-peppery
flavor. In some species the leaves are used for salad and the seeds for
bird food, but the seeds from some native species have been fed to
canaries with fatal results.
The mustard family is a large group well represented in Texas among the
early spring flowers and includes many of our vegetables, such as
mustard, cabbage, cauliflower, radish, and water-cress.
[Illustration: TANSY MUSTARD SLENDER BLADDER-POD]
Tansy Mustard (_Sophia pinnata_) grows in dry soil across the continent,
blooming in Texas in March and April. The narrow pods are about half an
inch long, erect or ascending. The flowers are small, the petals yellow.
In the southern part of the state it is very abundant and grows 2-3 ft.
high. The name was given because of medicinal properties accredited to
the plant.
Slender Bladder-Pod. Cloth-of-Gold (_Lesquerella gracilis_) can be
recognized by its bladder-like pods, which are responsible for its
common name of pop-weed. The yellow petals are narrowed at the base and
streaked with orange. The first flush of yellow on plains and prairies
is usually due to the bladder-pods. There are more than 20 species in
the state, most of them being very abundant. The scientific name is in
honor of Leo Lesquereux, a Swiss and American botanist.
The western wall-flower (_Erysimum asperum_), which grows in sandy areas
in West Texas, is one of the showiest yellow mustards in the state.
Several large-flowered purple mustards are common, including
_Streptanthus bracteatus_.
[Illustration: GREGGIA SPECTACLE-POD]
Greggia (_Greggia camporum_) is a white-flowered mustard which looks
like the yellow western wall-flower. The flowers are about half an inch
broad and sometimes tinged with purple. The stems are about a foot high
and almost concealed by the broad gray-green leaves. The woolly pods are
narrow, flattened, and about half an inch long. It is one of the
commonest flowers in Southwestern Texas, blooming in April, May, and
June.
Spectacle-Pod (_Dithyraea wislizeni_) is a common plant on sandhills and
gravelly mesas in Western Texas and ranges to Utah and Mexico. Any one
seeing the seed pods will think that the common name is most
appropriate. The plants grow 1-2 ft. high and are topped by the showy
clusters of white flowers. The leaves and flowers are very much like
those of greggia, but the fruits easily distinguish them. It was first
collected by Wislizenus in New Mexico in 1846.