282 OBSERVATIONS ON PLANTS 



be regarded as only one of these subdivisions, I consider 

 very nearly related to Capparidea?, and as forming part of 

 the same natural class. It differs in the variable number 

 228] of the parts of its floral envelopes, from the other or- 

 ders of the class, in which the quaternary or binary division is 

 without exception ; and it is especially remarkable in having 

 the ovarium open even in its earliest state. From Cruci- 

 fera3 and Capparidese, two families of the class to which 

 they most nearly approach, Resedacese also differ in the 

 apparent relation of the stigmata to the placentae. The 

 stigmata in this order terminate the lobes of the pistillum, 

 and as these lobes are open sterile portions of the modified 

 leaves, from the union of which in the undivided part I 

 suppose the compound ovarium to originate, they necessarily 

 alternate with the placentee. I have generally found, how- 

 ever, the upper part of each placenta covered by a fleshy 

 or fungous process, which is connected wdth the margins of 

 the lobes, and therefore wdth the stigmata, and is probably 

 essential to the fecundation of the ovula. The singular 

 apparent transposition of the placentae in Sesamoides of 

 Tournefort, so well described bv M. Tristan in his ino;enious 

 "' IVIemoir on the Affinities of Reseda,'-^ appears to me neces- 

 sarily connected with the extreme shortness of the undi- 

 vided base of the ovarium ; for in supposing this base to 

 be elongated, the placentae would become parietal, and the 

 ovula, which are actually resupinate, would assume the 

 direction usual in the order. 



M. De Jussieu, in his Genera Plantamm, has included 

 Reseda in Capparideae, and to this determination I believe 

 he still adheres. M. Tristan, in the memoir referred to, is 

 inclined to separate it as a family intermediate between 

 Passifloreac and Cistineae, but more nearly approaching to 

 the latter. M. De Candolle, who first distinguished Reseda 

 as an order under the name here adopted, in 1819^ placed 

 it between Polygaleas and Droseraceae, and consequently at 

 no great distance from Capparidea\ He must, since, how- 

 ever, have materially altered his opinion respecting it ; for 



' Annal (hi Mns. cVIlist. Nat. 18,;?. 392. - TUgv. mem. ed. 2,;;. 244. 



