BESEDACE2E. 



301 



according to the last monograph of J. Mueller (of Argovia). 1 But 

 Bentham & J. Hooker 2 think the number should be brought down 

 to thirty. All belong to the Old World and abound in the South of 

 Europe, Western and Central Asia and North Africa ; India posseses 

 a few species of Reseda, Ochradenus and Oligomeris? The two 

 monotypic genera Astrocarpus and Randonia are as yet limited to 

 South Europe and Algeria respectively. 



There are not many useful species. 4 A yellow colouring matter is 

 found in the vegetative organs, mainly the stem, leaves and root, 

 especially abundant in Weld {Reseda luteola 5 ). This principle is 

 luteoline, 6 also found in R. lutea, 7 alba, &c. Hence these species 

 may, like Weld, be used in dyeing. This is perhaps even possible with 

 R. odora/a, 8 our Mignionette (Fr., Mignonette), the charming species, 

 of unknown fatherland, 9 cultivated in our gardens for its sweet 

 flowers. From them are prepared perfumes, scented pomades, oils 

 and extracts. This plant was considered a sedative drug. Others 

 were formerly used for their slight pungency or acridity, like the 

 Crucifers. 10 R. Phytenma is used as a vegetable in Greece. 11 Astro- 

 carpus canescens 1 ' 2 is used in the South of Europe as a vulnerary and 

 detergent. 13 



1 Honographie des Resextacees, 4to (1857) ; 

 in DC. Prodi:, xvi. sect. i. (1S69). 



2 Gen., Ill (1868). 



3 One species of this last genus is found in 

 New Mexico (A. Geay, in PI. Wright, 16 ; Ft. 

 N.-Amer., 125, 669). 



4 Endl., Fnchirid., 

 Kingd., 356. — Dtjch., 

 Drog. Simp/., ed. 6, iii. 670.- 

 Pl. Diaphor., 650. 



5 See p. 297, note 5, fig. 325. 

 fi Pkeiss., in Joum. Pliarm. et Chim., v. 



(ex Guib., loc. cit.). 



7 See p. 297, note 2, fig. 311, 320-321. 



8 See p. 297, note 4, fig. 326-329. 



9 "Sponte crescentem oliin prope Mascar 

 Algeria? (ex Desf.), in J5gypto (ex Hall, Zinn., 



458. — LlNDL., Teg. 

 Bepert., 192. — Guib., 

 -Rosenth., Syn. 



254 



Linn.) et in Syria (ex Delile) indicabant, ubi 

 recentioribus hand obvia, et patria vera, nnde 

 jam anno 1751 (ex Boissieb de Sauvages, 

 Meth. PI. Sort. Montp., 194) in hortos europeos 

 introducta erat, hucusque dubia." (M. akg., 

 Prodr., 565.) 



10 " Resedm luteola L. (Wau, Luteola off.), et 

 11. lutea L. {Reseda off.) radix acris, Raplianum 

 redolens, olim ob virtutem aperientem, sudorificam 

 et diureticam inter medicinas admissa. Luteola 

 herba intense amara." (Endl., loc. cit.) 



11 The oxiarpa of the modern Greeks. 



12 See p. 292, note 1, fig. 312-319. 



13 Ducn., loc. cit. — Rosenth., op. cit., 651 

 [For details of the fertilization of these plants by 

 insects see H. Mullee, Befrucht.d. Blum., 142]. 



