Moricandia
(named after M. E. Moricand, 1780-1854, an Italian botanist, author of "Flora Veneta"). ORD. Cruciferae. A genus comprising five species of very pretty, hardy, annual or biennial, glabrous or pilose herbs, natives of South Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. Flowers purple or rose, large; sepals erect. Pods often elongated, on upright pedicels. Leaves entire, and amplexicaul or pinnatisect. The species thrive in any light soil. Seeds should be sown, in the open ground, during spring, in a warm, dry situation. M. arvensis (cornfield). fl. of a beautiful violet. Spring and summer. Pods somewhat tetragonal. l., cauline ones cordate, stem-clasping, quite entire. h. 1ft. South Europe, 1739. Biennial. (B. M. 3007; S. B. F. G. iii. 278.) M. Ramburii (Rambur's). fl. purple; calyx with the sepals erect, two opposite ones deeply bisaccate, two other opposite ones longer, and tapering to a mucronate point; racemes terminal, many-flowered. l. large, glaucous-green; lower ones largest, broadly obovate, petiolate; cauline ones gradually smaller and sessile. Stem 1ft. to 2ft. high, suffruticose below. Spain. Biennial. (B. M. 4947.) M. sonchifolia (Sonchus-leaved).* fl. pale violet-blue, very showy, in terminal racemes, 1in. in diameter. March. l. sessile, acutely auricled at base; radical ones soon withering, lyrate-pinnatisect, sinuate-serrate; cauline ones obovate-oblong, sub-acute, sinuate-serrate. h. 1ft. to 2ft. China, 1876. Annual. See B. M. 6243.)