CayluseaJ] XI. RESEDACE^ (oliver). 103 



2. C. abyssinica, Fisch. et Mey. hid. Sem. vii. (1840) 43. An erect, 

 simple or branched herb,- of 1-3 ft., glabrous or the branches thinly scabrid 

 towards the elongate, many-flowered, terminal, spike-like racemes.* Leaves 

 entire or 3-partite, linear-lanceolate or linear, narrowed to the base and above 

 to the acute or scarcely obtuse apex. Racemes from a few inches to a foot 

 or more in length. Bracts linear-subulate, equalling the pedicel, deciduous. 

 Seeds pale, obsoletely rugulose. — Reseda ahymnica, Fresen. in Mus. Senck. 

 ii. 106. R. pedimculata, Br. in Salt, Abyss. App. 64. Astrocarpus abysai- 

 nicus, Hochst. in PI. Schimp. Abyss. 



Nile Land. Abyssinia, Schimper ! Salt! Ferret and Ga/itiier, etc. 



Of the minute ineiubranous petals, 2 have the lamina 5-fid and in 3 it is simple. The ob- 

 cordate claw appears thinner and more membranous than in C, canesceru, of which, however, 

 I incline to regard C. abyssinica as a variety. 



2. RESEDA, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PL i. 112. 



Calyx 4-7-partite. Petals hypogynous, 4-7, unequal ; the lamina simple 

 linear, or 2-5-partite. Disk unilateral, dilated towards the axis, bearing the 

 stamens. Stamens 10-40. Ovary sessile or shortly stipitate j 3-lobed at 

 the apex ; placentas 3-6, multiovulate. Capsule indehiscent, open at the 

 apex ; seeds indefinite. — Erect or decumbent, glabrous or pilose herbs. 

 Leaves entire, lobed or pinnatifid. Flowers in terminal, bracteate racemes. 



A considerable genus, most numerous in species in countries bordering the Mediterranean 

 and in "Western Asia. The following is the only species of which I have seen specimens 

 from tropical Africa, but it is probable others may penetrate within our limits. 



1. R. pruinosa, Del. Fl. ^gypt. 15, mr. An erect or ascending bi- 

 ennial or perennial herb, 1 to a few feet in height, woody below, with 

 minutely pruinose-puberulous or papillose branches, terminating in long, 

 many-flowered, spicate racemes. Leaves entire or 3-fid, narrow-lanceolate or 

 oval or with linear-lanceolate segments, tapering below into a rather long 

 petiole, above to an acute or subacute pointi minutely scabrid-puberulous on 

 the midrib beneath or glabrous. Bracts caducous. Capsules obovate-oblong. 

 Seeds minute reniforra, minutely punctate under a lens. — R. amblyocarpa, 

 Fresen. in Mus. Senck. -ii. 108. R. Qiiartiniana, Rich. Fl. Abyss, i. 13. 

 {? R. lurida,M.\xe\\. kmg. Mem. Eesed. 152.) For further synonymy see 

 Anderson in Journ. Linn. Soc. v. Suppl. i. 6. 



Nile Ijand. Abyssinia, ScJdmper ! and others ; Nubia, Schweinfurih. 



Notwithstanding Pr. Anderson's remarks, I do not think R. amhlyocarpa can be main- 

 tained as specifically distinct from E. pruhiosa. There is no difference as to the seeds be- 

 tween the Abyssinian and N.W. Indian forms, though in the Aden plant, which was 

 specially under Dr. Anderson's notice, they are very small, black, and rough with miniife 

 points. The leaves of our only Abyssinian specimen are entire, though Fresenius describes 

 them as mostly 3-fid. Most of the leaves are 3-fid in the ordinary state of R. pruinosa. 



3. OLIGOMERIS, Carabess. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. i. 112. 



Calyx 4-partite; lobes nearly equal or the two posterior larger. Petals 2, 

 undivided, posterior, free or connate at the base. Stamens 3-8, hypogynous ; 

 filaments connate at the base. Disk 0. Ovary sessile, ovoid, tetragonous or 

 S-sulcate below, abruptly narrowed into the 4 erect, cuspidate, connate 



