I. Draba Vérna L. Vernal Whitlow-Grass. Shad-Flower. Nailwort

Fig. 1907

Draba verna L. Sp. Pl. 642. 1753.

Erophila vulgaris DC. Syst. Veg. 2: 356. 1821.

Annual or biennial, the leafless scapes numerous, 1'-5' high, erect or ascending, arising from a tuft of basal leaves, which are oblong or spatulate-oblanceolate, 1/2'-1' long, dentate or nearly entire, acutish and pubescent with stiff stellate hairs; scapes nearly glabrous; flowers white, cleis-togamous, 1 1/2"-2" broad; petals deeply bifid; pedicels ascending, 1/2'-1' long in fruit; racemes elongating; pods oblong to oval, glabrous, 3"-4" long, 1" broad, obtuse, shorter than their pedicels; style minute; seeds numerous.

In fields, Massachusetts to New York, Minnesota, Georgia and Tennessee. Recorded from Quebec. Naturalized from Europe. Occurs also in Washington and British Columbia. Native of Europe and western Asia. Consists of a great many slightly differing races. White-blow. Feb.-May.

2. Draba Caroliniàna Walt. Carolina Whitlow-Grass

Fig. 1998

Draba caroliniana Walt. Fl. Car. 174. 1788. Draba hispidula Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 2: 28. 1803. Draba caroliniana micrantha A. Gray, Man. Ed.

5, 72. 1867. Draba micrantha Nutt.; T. & G. Fl. N. A. 1: 109.

1838.

Winter-annual, the flowering scapes 1'-5' high from a short leafy stem. Leaves tufted, obovate, 4"-10" long, obtuse, entire or rarely with 3 or 4 teeth, pubescent with stiff stellate hairs; scapes nearly glabrous; flowers white, 1 1/2"-2" broad; petals entire, sometimes wanting in the later flowers; pedicels 1"-2" long in fruit, clustered near the summit of the scape; pods linear, 4"-6" long, nearly 1" broad, glabrous or appressed-pubescent; style none.

In sandy fields, eastern Massachusetts to southern Ontario, Nebraska, Minnesota, Idaho, Georgia, Arkansas and Arizona. March-June.

3. Draba Cuneifòlia Nutt. Wedge-Leaved Whitlow-Grass

Fig. 1999

Draba cuneifolia Nutt.; T. & G. Fl. N. A. 1: 108. 1838.

Winter-annual, stellate-pubescent all over, 4'-8' high, branching and leafy below. Leaves obovate, cuneate, or the lowest spatulate, 1/2' - 1 1/2' long, obtuse, dentate toward the summit; flowering branches erect or ascending; flowers white, 2" broad; petals emarginate, twice or thrice the- length of the calyx; pedicels ascending or spreading, 2"-4" long in fruit; raceme elongating; petals emarginate; pods linear-oblong, obtuse, 4"-5" long, 1" wide, minutely hairy; style none.

In fields, Kentucky to Kansas, south to Florida, Texas and northern Mexico, west to southern California. Feb.-April.