a ENGLISH BOTANY. 



the apex, especially on tlie side next the axis. Stamens 10 to 40, 

 inserted within the opening of the disk. Carpels sessile or stipitate, 

 3 or 4 united into a 1-celled capsule open (before the seeds are 

 ripe) at the apex, where there are as many teeth or lobes as there 

 are carjoels. Seeds numerous, kidney-shaped or obovate. 



Erect or decumbent herbs, generally glabrous, with small race- 

 mose flowers having a single bract at the base of their pedicels. 



The name of this genus of plants comes from the Latin word resedo, I appease, I 

 quiet; from the notion that some of the species had this effect when medicinally applied. 



SPECIES I.— RESEDA LUTE A. Linii. 



Plate CLXII. 



J?eick Ic. FI. Germ, et Helv. Vol. II. Tetr. Tab. C. Fig. 4-146. 



Stem with many ascending flexuous branches (rarely nearly 

 simple and erect). Leaves entire at the base, divided about the 

 middle into 3 narrow entire or pinnatifid lobes. Flowers in rather 

 short and dense conical racemes. Pedicels spreading, longer than 

 the divisions of the calyx, which are 6 in number, and scarcely 

 enlarge after flowering. Petals 6, with roundish claws, the two 

 upper ones 3-cleft, the two lateral ones 2-cleft or rarely 3-cleft, the 

 two lower linear-entire. Capsule oblong-ovoid, narrowed below, 

 3-sided, papillose, with 3 teeth at the summit. 



Waste places. Common in England, particularly on calcareous 

 soils. Hare in Scotland, where it appears to be confined to the east 

 coast, and not extending north of Eorfarshire as a true native. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Biennial or Perennial. Summer. 



Root a long tapering tap-root. Central stem erect, 15 to 30 

 inclies high, solid, with raised lines, generally diffusely branched ; 

 lateral stems and branches arched at the base and ascending. 

 Padical leaves in a rosette, soon decaying ; stem leaves very 

 numerous ; all very variable in their mode of division, but com- 

 monly I'esembling a narrow strap-shaped leaf with 2 lobes of about 

 the same breadth proceeding from about half way between the 

 base and the apex, diverging at an acute angle from the main 

 portion of the lamina, which they scarcely equal in length ; from 

 these lobes other smaller ones ai'e frequently given off in an 

 irregular manner, and all the lobes are undulated or rather crimped 

 at the mai'gins. Racemes shortly stalked, compact while in flower, 

 lax in fruit ; pedicels papillose, erect in fruit. Flowers pale sulphur- 

 yellow, about J inch across. Calyx segments linear-strapshaped, 

 the upper ones smaller than the others. Upper pair of petals with 



