XVII. RESEDACE^E. 



TREES. LEAVES 2-3-imparipiimate ; leaflets very caducous ; stipules deciduous. 

 FLOWERS $ , irregular, in pauicled racemes. CALYX 5-partite, with oblong subequal 

 segments, imbricate in bud. PETALS 5, inserted on the calyx, linear-oblong, the two 

 posterior rather the longest, ascending, imbricate in bud. STAMENS 8-1.0, inserted on a 

 cup- shaped disk lining the base of the calyx ; filaments flattened at the base, connivent 

 in a tube which is split behind, united above the middle, free above and below, 

 unequal, the posterior longest, all fertile, or those opposite the calyx- segments 

 shorter and imperfect; anthers introrse, 1 -celled, ovoid-oblong, dorsally fixed, 

 dehiscence longitudinal. OVARY pedicelled, 1 -celled, with three parietal slender 

 placentas ; style terminal, simple, thickened [tubular, open at the truncate top] ; 

 ovules numerous [bi-seriate] , pendulous, anatropous, [raphe ventral]. CAPSULE 

 siliquiforin, :}-many-angled, torulose, 3-valved, valves with the placentas on the 

 middle. SEEDS 1-seriate, separated by spongy septa, ovoid-trigonous, angles apte- 

 rous or winged ; chnlaza apical, corky. EMBRYO straight, exalbuminous ; cotyledons 

 pliuio-convex, fleshy [plumule many-leaved] ; radicle very short, superior. 



ONLY GENUS. 

 Moringa. 



Tlve genus Miirtiit/ii lias been by sonic botanists placed in Pajrilionacea on account of a slight resem- 

 blance iu the flower, which, however, indicates uo true affinity. Hooker [following Lindley] compared it 

 with riolan't'ff, which resemble it in their irregular flower with unequal dorsal petal, in their perigynous 

 insertion, tubular style, one-celled ovary with three parietal nerviform placentas and auatropotu ovules ; 

 but Murinyetf are widely separated by habit, one-celled anthers, and exalbuminous seeds. It is amongst 

 Capparidcee that we must search for the real allinities of Morinyete, through their polypetalous imbricate 

 corolla, perigynism, stamens more numerous than petals, stipitate one-celled ovary, parietal placentation, 

 siliquose capsule, exalbuminous embryo, altenmte leaves and caducous stipules; to which must be added 

 the acrid root, leaves, and bark, which are common tolxrth families, recalling the smell and taste of the 

 Horse-radish, and a.s.-uciating Mvrinya also with ( 'i-ncifcrer, themselves so closely allied to Capparideee. 



MoriHi/efc are tropical Asiatic, Arabian and Madagaeoui trees. The best known species is "Moringa 

 ftjrtcm, of which the seed, called Ben nut, yields a fixed oil, of much repute in the East, because it does not 

 become rancid [and used by perfumers and machinists from its not freezing. The root of M. pteryyosperma 

 is used as a stimulant in paralysis and intermittent fevers; and a colloid gum, like tragacanth, exudes in 

 great quantities from its bark. Ep.l. 



XML RESEDACE^E, D.C. 



CALYX 4-8-partite. PETALS generally hypogynous, 4-8 (rarely 2 or 0). STAMENS 

 3-40, inserted within a fleshy dink. CARPELS usually united into a 1- celled ovary. 

 FRUIT a capsule or berry, SEEDS exalbuminous. EMBRYO curved. 



Annual or perennial HERBS, sometimes UNDERSHRUBS, rarely SHRUBS (Ochradenus), 

 juice watery, stem and branches terete. LEAVES scattered, simple, entire, 3-fid or 

 pinnatipartite ; stipules minute, gland-like. FLOWERS ? , rarely diclinous, more or 

 less irregular, in a raceme or spike, bracteate. CALYX persistent, 4-8-partite, more 

 or less unequal, aestivation imbricate. PETALS alternate with the calycinal lobes, 

 4-8, rarely 2 (Oligomeris) , or (Ochradenus) , hypogynous, or rarely perigynous 

 (Randonia), entire, or 3- oo-fid, simple, or furnished with a basal scale, free, or rarely 



