Crambe
(name deduced from the Greek). Sea-kale. ORD. Cruciferoe. Hardy herbaceous perennials. Flowers white, with a honey-like perfume; racemes elongated, many-flowered, disposed in lax panicles; pedicels filiform, erect, bractless. Leaves sometimes thick, sometimes membranous, hairy or smooth; cauline ones alternate, stalked, pinnately toothed, cut, pinnatifid or lyrate. They are of easy growth in any good garden soil, and may be increased either by dividing the roots, or by seed. For special culture of C. maritima, see Sea-kale.
C. cordifolia (heart-leaved).* fl. white, disposed in leafless, smooth, and much-branched panicles. June. l. stalked, toothed; lower ones cordate, upper ones ovate, and are, as well as the stem, almost glabrous. h. 6ft. North Caucasus. This is a hardy large-leaved herbaceous plant. C. juncea (rush-like). fl. whitish. May to June. l. lyrate, with toothed lobes; terminal lobe the largest; leafstalk and stem hispid from reflexed hairs. h. 2ft. Iberia, 1820.
C. maritima (sea). Common Sea-kale. fl. white. May. l. roundish, sinuate, waved, toothed, and, as well as the stem, very smooth. h. 1 1/2ft. Britain, &c.(Sy. En. B. 80.)
C. tartarica (Tartarian). fl. white. June and July. l., radical ones decompound; leaflets cut-toothed; younger leaves rough; adult ones smooth, as well as the stem. Root fusiform, 2ft. to 3ft. long. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Eastern Europe, 1789.