RESEDACE. 
the top. Capsules (berry in Ochradénus) trigonal or tetragonal, 
membranous, inflated, open at the top, with the seminiferous 
nerves equal in number with the stigmas ; these are perpendicular 
and parietal. Seeds simple, cochleated, sessile, pendulous, white 
or yellow, disposed in an alternate double series, but they 
are sometimes scattered from abortion; umbilicus small, ob- 
lique, with the upper side approximating the recess of the 
radicle ; outer coat of seed crustaceous, ornamented with minute 
dots, disposed in elevated lines; inner coat membranous, dia- 
phanous. Albumen none. Embryo curved, conforming to 
the cavity of the seed, terete, yellowish, rather narrowed towards 
the base, with semi-cylindrical cotyledons, and with a supe- 
rior cylindrical thick radicle, which is very blunt at the base, 
and equal in length with the cotyledons, and opposite the umbi- 
licus. This order agrees with Ranunculacee, especially with 
Delphinium, in the complicated stigma, and structure of the 
ovary, as well as in the seminiferous placentas. It is also allied 
to Capparidee and Tropedlee, in the petals being unguiculate, 
as well as in the seed being destitute of albumen. The Cappa- 
ridee, Resedacee, Crucifere, Papaveracee, and Tropedlee, ap- 
pear to constitute a grand natural class; and near to them, but 
at different points, must be arranged the Ranunculacee, Poly- 
galee, and Balsaminee, an arrangement which the many analo- 
gies and affinities existing between these families appear to 
justify, 
Most of the species of Reséda are rather ornamental ; and 
R. odorata is cultivated extensively for the fragrance of its blos- _ 
soms. All the species are herbaceous, or slightly suffruticose. 
The leaves are simple, trifid, or pinnate ; and the flowers, which 
are either yellow or white, are small, disposed in dense or loose 
terminal racemes. The seeds are kidney-shaped, and retain 
their vegetating power a considerable time, therefore they are 
easily introduced, in a living state, from one part of the world 
to another. 
This Order differs from Crucifere in the capsules being uni- 
locular, in the stamens being indefinite, in the seeds being desti- 
tute of an umbilical cord, as well as in the capsules being bladdery 
and open at the top. It differs in these two last characters from 
all the neighbouring orders, except Datiscee. 
` Synopsis of the Genera. 
1 Rese Da. Calyx of 4-5-6 narrow segments. Petals 4-5-6 
cloven, Capsule bladdery, 3-4 horned, many-seeded. 
2 Ocuranve'nus. Calyx rotate, 5-toothed, replete with an 
annular gland. Petals wanting. Berry many-seeded. 
no RESEDA (from resedo, to calm, to appease ; the Latins 
thought it useful as a topical application in external bruises.) 
n. gen. ed, Schroeb. no, 831. Willd. spec. 2. p. 876. 
vid IN. syst. Octo-Polydndria. Tri-Tetragynia. Calyx di- 
Mi a almost to the base into 4-5-6 narrow segments. Petals 
bla t, equal in number with the segments of the calyx. Capsule 
addery, with a hole at the top when ripe. Herbaceous or 
slightly shrubby plants. 
$L . . , ok 
much dilated or aple, Pigs: Petals trifidand quinquifid. Torus 
287 
1 R. sesamoipEs (Lin. spec. 644.) leaves lanceolate, entire, ob- 
tuse, smooth; petals 5; capsule furnished with 4 reflexed horns. 
uy. H. Native of the south of France, Spain, and Portugal, 
on walls and among rubbish. Flowers small, white, in long 
racemes. Stems prostrate. Calyx reflexed, 3 of the segments 
pointed upwards, and 2 downwards. 
Sesamum-like Mignonette. Fl, June, July. Clt. 1787. Pi. 
1 foot long. 
2 R. purpura’scens (Lin. spec. 644.) leaves linear, obtuse ; 
flowers pentagynous. %. H. Native of the south of Europe, 
particularly about Montpelier. Stem purplish. Leaves like 
flax. Flowers of greenish-purple colour, in long spikes. 
Purplish Mignonette. Fl. Ju. July. Pl. 4 foot. 
3 R. txiro Lia (Horn. hort. hafn. 2. p. 501.) leaves linear- 
awl-shaped, channelled ; capsules 3-toothed. ©. H. Native of 
the south of Europe and Egypt. R. subulata Delile. ill. p. 15, 
Flaz-leaved Mignonette. Fl. July, August. Clt. 1819. Pl. 
1 foot. 
4 R. crav'ca (Lin. spec. 644.) leaves linear, glaucous, toothed 
atthe base ; flowers tetragynous. Y.H. Native of Spain and 
Egypt.—Mor. oxon. 3. p. 601. sect. 15. t. 6. f. 4. Flowers 
pale yellow, disposed in long spikes, Pinnula of leaves not 
changed into scarious teeth. (Link.) 
Glaucous Mignonette. Fl. May, Jul. Clt. 1748. Pl. 1 ft. 
5 R. prr'rara (Ait. hort. kew. ed. 1. vol. 2. p. 132.) leaves 
linear, quite entire, acute ; flowers tetragynous, 2-petalled ; pe- 
tals undivided. ¢. G. Native of the Cape of Good Hope. 
R. Capénsis, Burm. prod. cap. 13. Habit of R. sesamoides. 
Stem suffruticose, erect, branched; branches round, smooth. 
Flowers white, remote, in termina] racemes. Segments of calyx 
6, minute, with white margins. Petals cuneated, quite entire. 
Capsule globose. 
Two-petalled Mignonette. Fl. Aug. Clt. 1774. Pl. 1} foot 
6 R. scopa RIA (Brouss. in Willd. enum. 499.) leaves linear, 
quite entire, smoothish ; stem shrubby ; branches twiggy; cap- 
sules clavate, 3-toothed. h. G. Native of Teneriffe. Flowers 
yellow. This species comes very near R. glatica. Capsule ta- 
pering to the base. 
Broom Mignonette. Fl. Ju. Sep. Clt. 1815. Shr. 1 foot. 
7 R. canescens (Lin. syst. 448.) leaves lanceolate, entire, 
I. RESEDA. 
wavy, pilose; branches hairy; capsules 6-toothed. X4. H. 
Native of Egypt. R. hexágyna, Forsk. descr. 92. Stem erect. 
Leaves with a pilose keel, and rather ciliated margins. Flowers 
in racemes, with white petals and yellow anthers. Clus. hist. 1. 
p. 296. t. 295. It appears from the description in Lin. spec. 
644. that Linneeus intended a very different plant from that 
which he describes in his systema, as well as in his reference 
to Clusius. 
Canescent Mignonette. Fl. May, Aug. Clt. 1597. Pl. 1 foot. 
8 R. LuTE`oLA (Lin. spec. 643.) leaves lanceolate, entire, 
but furnished with a tooth on each side, at the base; calyx 
4-cleft, upper petal quinquefid, lateral ones trifid, lower one 
bifid or simple. ©.H. Native of Europe in pastures, fallow- 
fields, waste-places, and on dry banks and walls. Smith, eng. 
bot. t. 321. Jacq. aust. 4. t. 352. Flowers yellow, trigy- 
nous, in long spikes which are nodding at the top. It is an 
observation of Linnzeus, that the nodding spike of the flower 
follows the course of the sun, even when the sky is covered ; 
pointing towards the east in the morning, to the south at 
noon, westward in the afternoon, and north at night. Dyers 
formerly made considerable use of this plant ; for it affords a 
most beautiful yellow dye for cotton, woollen, silk, and linen. 
Blue cloths are dipped in a decoction of it in order to become 
green. The yellow colour of the paint called Dutch-pink is 
obtained from this plant. The entire plant when it is about 
flowering is pulled up for the use of the dyers, who employ it 
