54 



Capparidece Cleome. 



showy, white, yellow, or purple. The etymology of the word 

 is obscure. 



1. G. spinosa (fig. 

 40). This is a hand- 

 some shrub from South 

 America, remarkable 

 for the length and 

 persistence of its sta- 

 mens. Petals rosy pink, 

 all directed upwards. A 

 tender species. 



2. C.rosea. A beau- 

 tiful annual about 18 

 inches high. Leaves 

 glabrous, petiolate, 3- 

 to 5-foliolate, with the 

 uppermost simple ; leaf- 

 lets lanceolate. Flowers 

 bright rose, in termi- 

 nal bracteate racemes. 

 South America. 



3. C. 8pecios^ss^ma. 

 Near the last, but 

 with 5- to 7-foliolate 

 hairy leaves and larger 

 violet-red flowers. 



Fig. 40. Cleome spinosa. (J nat. size.) 



Mexico. 



ORDER XI. RESEDACE.SI. 



Annual or perennial herbs, rarely shrubby. Leaves scat- 

 tered or fasciculated, simple, trifid or pinnate ; stipules minute, 

 glandular. Flowers hermaphrodite, small, dull-coloured, race- 

 mose, or spicate. Calyx persistent, 4- to 7-partite, equal or un- 

 equal, lobes imbricated. Petals 4 to 7, rarely 2 or none, 

 hypogynous, deeply lobed or laciniate. Torus dilated upwards. 

 Stamens 10 to 40, inserted within the torus. Capsule sessile 

 or stalked, indehi scent, open at the top in three lobes. Seeds 

 numerous, reniform, exalbuminous. Most of the species be- 

 longing to this family are from the Mediterranean region. 



