182 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 least 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. OI.IGOMERIS. 



1. RESEDA L. 



Erect or decumbent herbs with entire, lobed or pinnat- 

 ifid leaves and small spicate or narrowly racemose 

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

 glandular. Stamens 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. B. 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, 4-6 mm. broad, greenish yellow; 

 pedicels ascending, about 4 mm. long in fruit; petals 6 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. OLIGOMEBIS. 



Low glaucous chiefly annuals with linear and entire 

 leaves, and small greenish flowers in terminal spikes. 

 Stamens usually 4. Petals 2, posterior, free or united at 

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



