CAPPARIDACEAE. [Vox,. II. 



2. Polanisia trachysperma T. & G. 



Large-flowered Clammy- weed. 



(Fig. 1797.) 



Polanisia trachysperma T. & G. Fl. N. A. i: 669. 1840. 

 Jacksonia trachysperma Greene, Pittonia, 2: 175. 1891. 



Similar to the last, but flowers twice the size 

 (4 // -6 // long); style slender, 2 / '-3 // long; stamens 

 much exserted, often twice the length of the petals; 

 filaments purple, conspicuous; pod slightly larger, 

 nearly or quite sessile. 



Prairies, Iowa to Texas, west to British Columbia, 

 Nevada and Arizona. Summer. 



Family 34. RESEDACEAE S. F. Gray, Nat. An. Brit. PI. 2: 665. 1821. 



MIGNONETTE FAMILY. 



Annual or perennial herbs, rarely somewhat woody, with alternate or fas- 

 cicled leaves, gland-like stipules and racemose or spicate, bracted flowers. 

 Flowers unsymmetrical. Calyx 4-7 -parted, more or less inequilateral. Petals 

 generally 4-7, cleft or entire, hypogynous. Disk fleshy, hypogynous, i -sided. 

 Stamens 3-40, mainly inserted on the disk; filaments generally unequal. Ovary 

 i, compound, of 3-6 carpels; styles or sessile stigmas 3-6; ovules oo . Fruit cap- 

 sular in all but i genus. Seeds reniform, without endosperm; cotyledons 

 incumbent. 



Six genera and about 65 species, mainly natives of the Mediterranean region. 



i. RESEDA L. Sp. PI. 448. 1753. 



Erect or decumbent herbs, with entire lobed or pinnatifid leaves, and small spicate or 

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

 Stamens 8-30, inserted on one side of the flower and on the inner surface of the disk. Cap- 

 sule 3-6-lobed, horned, opening at the top before the seeds mature. [Ancient Latin name, 

 referring to the supposed sedative effects of some of the species.] 



About 55 species, all natives of the Old World. 



leaves entire; upper petals lobed, the lower entire. i. R. Luteola. 



Leaves lobed or pinnatifid. 



Petals greenish-yellow, 3 or 4 of them divided. 2. R. lutea. 



Petals white, all of them cleft or divided. 3. R. alba. 



i. Reseda Luteola L. Dyer's Rocket. 

 Yellow-weed. (Fig. 1798.) 



Reseda Luteola L. Sp. PI. 448. 1753. 



Glabrous, erect, simple, or sparingly branched 

 above, i-2^ high. Leaves lanceolate or lin- 

 ear, entire, obtuse, sessile or the lowest narrowed 

 into a petiole; flowers greenish-yellow, i // -2 // 

 broad, in long narrow spikes; sepals 4; petals 4 

 or 5, very unequal, the upper ones lobed, the 

 lower entire; capsule globose, 2' / ~3 // in diame- 

 ter, with 3 or 4 apical teeth and 6-8 lateral ridges. 



In waste places, Long Island, N. Y. ; also in the 

 western part of the State (Gray), and in ballast 

 about the seaports. Adventive from Europe. 

 Cultivated for its yellow dye. Summer. Also called 

 Dyer's Weed, Dyer's Mignonette and Weld. 



