404 CISTACEA. 
occur in the north of India, Cape of Good Hope, and California. 
Illustrative Genera :—Reseda, Linn. ; Astrocarpus, Neck. There 
are about 45 species in this order. 
Properties and Uses.—But little is known of their properties. 
The plants are generally somewhat acrid, and were formerly 
supposed to be sedative. 
Reseda.—Reseda odorata is the Mignonette plant, which is so much 
esteemed for the fragrance of its flowers.—Reseda luteola, a common plant 
in this country, and known under the name of Weld, yields a yellow dye. 
Order 7. CistacEm®, the Rock-rose Order.—Character. — 
Shrubs or herbs, often viscid. Leaves opposite or alternate, entire, 
stipulate or exstipulate. Flowers showy. Sepals usually 5 (fig. 
898), sometimes 3, persistent, unequal ; estiwation of the three 
inner twisted. Petals usually 5 (fig. 898), very rarely 3, cadu- 
cous, hypogynous, frequently corrugated in the bud, and twisted 
in a reverse way to that of the sepals. Stamens (fig. 898) dis- 
tinct, hypogynous, definite or indefinite. Ovary 1- (fig. 898) or 
Fie. 898. 
Fig. 898. Diagram of the flower of a species of Helianthemum.——Fig. 899. 
Section of the seed of a species of Cistus, the pointed end being its apex. 
many-celled from parietal septa ; ovules orthotropous; style single; 
stigma simple. fruit capsular, usually 1-celled, with 3—5, or 
rarely 10 valves ; or imperfectly 3—5—10-celled ; placentas pa- 
rietal (fig. 898). Seeds definite or numerous, albuminous (jig. 
899) ; embryo (fig. 899) curved or spiral, with the radicle remote 
from the hilum. 
Diagnosis.—Leaves entire. Sepals and petals with a ternary 
or quinary arrangement, twisted in estivation ; the former per- 
sistent, the latter caducous. Stamens hypogynous, distinct. 
Ovary with parietal placentas and orthotropous ovules ; style 
single; stigma simple. Fruit capsular. Seeds with mealy 
albumen ; embryo inverted, curved or spiral. 
Distribution and Numbers.—These plants are most abundant 
in the south of Europe and the north of Africa. Some few 
are found in other parts of the globe. Illustrative Genera :— 
Cistus, Tourn. ; Helanthemum, Youwrn. There are about 200 
species. 
