1S2 Resedaceae 



Family 37. RESEDACEAE. Mignonette Family. 



Annual or perennial herbs with alternate leaves, gland- 

 Like stipules and racemose or spicate bracted unsymmetri- 

 cal flowers. Calyx 4-7-parted, more or less irregular. 



Petals 2-6, usually laciniate or dentate. Stamens hypog- 

 ynous, 3-40, borne on the base of the calyx or on a dilat- 

 ed nectariferous and oblique disk, declined or unilateral. 

 Ovary 1, composed of 3-6 carpels, at leasl the tips dis- 

 tinct : ovules many. Fruit capsular. Seeds reniform ; 

 endosperm none ; cotyledons incumbent. 



Petals 4: disk present. 1. RESEDA. 



Petals 2; disk wanting. 2. OMGOMERIS. 



1. RESEDA L. 



Erect or decumbent herbs with entire, lobed or pinnat- 



itid leaves and small spicate or narrowly racemose 

 (lowers. Petals 4-7, toothed or cleft. Disk cup-shaped, 

 glandular. Stamen- 8-30, inserted on the inner surface 

 of the disk and on one side of the flower. Capsule 3-6- 

 lobed, horned at the top before maturity. 



1. R. lutea L. Ascending or decumbent, somewhat pubes- 

 cent with short stiff hairs or nearly glabrous; leaves 5-10 cm. 

 long, broadly ovate or oblong, deeply lobed or divided, some- 

 times pinnatifid; segments linear-oblong with undulate margins; 

 flowers in narrow racemes, 1-6 mm. broad, greenish yellow; 

 pedicels ascending, about 4 mm. long in fruit; petals t> or 5, all 

 but the lowest irregularly cleft; sepals of the same number; cap- 

 sule oblong, about 8 mm. long, with 3 or rarely 4 short teeth. 



An occasional escape from gardens. 



2. OLIGOMERIS. 



Low glaucous chiefly annuals with linear and entire 

 leaves, and -mall greenish flowers in terminal spikes. 

 Stamen- usually I. Petals '1. posterior, free or united at 

 the base, entire or 2-3-lobed, persistent. Disk none. 



