Stock

Stock (Matthiola), a genus of Cruciferae with a nearly cylindrical siliqua and numerous thin flat seeds in one row. There are about 30 species, 13 of which are European and 2 British. M. incana, wild on the shores of the Isle of Wight, is the origin of the "Queen" stocks in our gardens. M. sinnuata occurs on the west coast. M. annua is the Ten-week stock; M. qraeca, the smooth-leaved annual stock; and M. tristis, with small brown flowers, the night-scented stock.