46° . RESEDACEZ. 
whether there are more than thirty distinct species, belonging to six genera. They are 
chiefly natives of the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea; a few extend to India, 
two or three to South Africa, and one to America. 
1. OLIGOMERIS. 
Oligomeris, Cambess. in Jacquem. Voy. Bot. xxiii. t. 25; Benth. et Hook. Gen. Plant. i. p. 112. 
Herbaceous or half-shrubby plants. Besides the following, there are three South- 
African species. 
1. Oligomeris subulata, Boiss. ex Miill. in DC. Prodr. xvi. pars 2, p. 587. 
Oligomeris glaucescens, Camb. Jacquem. Voy. iv. p. 24, t. 25. 
Ellimia ruderalis, Nutt. 
Widely dispersed in the Old World from India through the Mediterranean region to 
the Canary Islands; and in America it has been found in NEw Mexico, CALIFORNIA, 
GUADALUPE IsLAnD, and—NortH Mexico, valley between the Saledo and Lake Santa 
Maria, Chihuahua (Wright), Bolson de Mapimi (Gregq). | 
Hooker and Bentham (Gen. Plant. i. p. 112) think this was probably introduced into 
America; Watson (‘Botany of California,’ i. p. 53) says, “seemingly indigenous 
to North America.” | 
[ Reseda luteola, Linn., was collected by Heller at Toluca, 6000 feet, and by Bourgeau 
near Mexico; but there is no doubt that this is an introduced plant. | 
Order XII. CISTINE. 
Cistinee, Benth. et Hook. Gen. Plant. i. p. 112. 
Herbs, under-shrubs, or shrubs. There are four genera, comprising about sixty well- 
defined species, though nearly 200 have been described in books. They are most 
abundant in the Mediterranean region, rare in Central and Eastern Asia; a few in the 
Atlantic States of North America and in Mexico, one on the Pacific coast of North 
America, and two or three in South America. 
1. LECHEA. 
Lechea, Linn. Gen. Plant. n. 109; Benth. et Hook. Gen. Plant. i. p. 114. 
Herbs or under-shrubs. Three or four species, natives of North and Central America. 
1. Lechea skinneri, Benth. Bot. Voy. Sulph. p. 66. 
Helianthemum tripetalum, Mog. et Sessé, DC. Prodr. i. p. 284; Calques des Dess. Fl. Mex. 47 
and iti. D. 
Norta Mexico, region of San Luis Potosi, 6000 to 8000 feet (Parry & Palmer, | 
31); GuatemaLa (Skinner). Hb. Kew. 
