CHAP. I.J DATISCE^. 273 



the Ip.st. AVhen the capsule is ripe, each of 

 the pointed lobes, which formed its upper ex- 

 tremity, opens down the middle, thus forming a 

 curious three-cornered mouth for the discharge 

 of the seed. The flowers form what is called an 

 upright raceme, springing from a succulent 

 main stem, which is, however, somewhat woody 

 at the base. The plant indeed, though treated 

 in England as an annual, is a shrub in the 

 plains of Barbary, of wjiich it is a native ; and 

 even in this country it may be made to assume 

 the character of a small tree, by keeping it 

 during winter in a hot-house or green-house. I 

 was very much surprised to find that Migno- 

 nette has been introduced barely a century ; 

 and it seems difficult to imagine how those of 

 our ancestors who were fond of flower-gar- 

 dens contrived to do without it. I have only 

 to add that there are several species of Reseda, 

 one of which (R. luteola) is a British plant used 

 in dyeing, and is called Dyer's Weed, or Weld. 



ORDER XV.— DATISCEiE. 



There is only one genus of tlu^ee species, 

 which are coarse hardy perennials, having the 

 appearance of hemp ; and only grown in Eng- 

 land in botanic gardens. 



