64 RESEDACEsE, CISTINE^E. [CHAP. 



which are specially odoriferous in the evenings, and is 

 therefore probably in most cases fertilised by moths, 

 though it is also visited by day-insects, as for instance, 

 by the hive bee, the white butterflies (Pieris brassier, 

 P. rapi y and P. napi), Halictus leucopus, Andrena 

 albicans, Volucella pellucens, RJiingia rostrata, &c. 



But though the colour, honey, and scent of the 

 Cruciferae have evident reference to the visits of 

 insects, this order does not offer so many special and 

 specific adaptations as we shall meet with in other 

 groups ; and the majority of species, at any rate, ap- 

 pear to have retained the power of self-fertilisation. 



RESEDACE/E. 



Flowers bisexual, small, greenish, sometimes scent- 

 ed irregular. Sepals and petals 4-7. Stamens many 

 inserted on a broad disk. Pistil one, with 2-3 stigmas. 



This order is represented in Britain by one genus 

 Reseda (the Mignonette), containing three species. 

 In the common garden mignonette the upper half of 

 the base of the flower raises itself between the 

 stamens and the sepals into a quadrangular, perpen- 

 dicular plate, which is first yellowish, and after the 

 flower has faded, brown. It is enclosed in a sort of 

 box, the three upper petals forming the lid. Its 

 hinder surface secretes honey. The mignonette is 

 said to be specially frequented by bees of the genus 

 Prosopis. 



This order contains only a single British genus, 

 Helianthemum, with four species. The flowers do 



