Herb. [So named, according to Britten and Holland, from its habit of growth. According to Linnæus, called Turritis (Tournefort) as being ‘alta et stricta.’] Popular name of a cruciferous plant, Turritis glabra, found on banks and cliffs. Called also Towers treacle, Towerwort, and sometimes Tower Cress.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. xxii. 212. Towers Mustarde, of some hath beene taken for a kinde of Cresses.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., Turritis, Tower-Mustard.
1842. C. W. Johnson, Farmer’s Cycl., s.v., Turritis, from turris, a tower; the foliage is so disposed on the stems as to give them a pyramidal form, and for the same reason the plants are called tower-mustard.
b. Sometimes applied to Arabis Turrita (see TOWER-cress); also called Bastard Tower mustard.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 320. Mustard, Bastard Tower, Arabis.
1866. Treas. Bot., s.v. Mustard, Mustard, Tower … also Arabis Turrita.
1874. Gray, Man. Bot. (ed. 5), 69. A[rabis] perfoliata, Lam. (Tower Mustard).
