106 THE CISTFS FAMILY. 



long, stiff spikes. Sepals 4. Petals 4 or 5, very unequal, the 1 or 2 lower 

 ones entire, 'the upper ones divided into 2 to 5 lobes. Capsules nearly 

 globular, with 3 or sometimes 4 teeth, and twice as many external furrows. 

 In waste places, throughout temperate and southern Europe, from Sweden 

 to the Caucasus. Extends over the greater part of Britain, but decreases 

 northward, although found occasionally as far as Aberdeen. Long culti- 

 vated for the use of dyers, it may not improbably be an introduced plant 

 with us, as in northern Europe generally. Fl. summer. 



2. Cut-leaved Miguionette. Reseda lutea, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 321.) 



Not so tall as the dyer's M., much more branched, and less erect. 

 Leaves very variable, but always deeply divided, most of them once or twice 

 trifid, but occasionally pianatifid, with few oblong or hnear segments, 

 much waved on the margins. Flowers on slender pedicels, in long racemes. 

 Sepals usually 6, but sometimes only 5. Petals as many, of a greenish 

 yellow, the lowest entire or 2-cIeft, the others irregularly divided into 2, 3, 

 or 4. Capsule oblong, with 3, rarely 4, very short teeth. 



In waste places, especially in hmestone districts, in central and southern 

 Eui'ope, to the Caucasus. In Britain, chiefly prevalent in south-eastern 

 England, but extends also to the limestones of the western and northern 

 counties of England, into Ireland, and up the east coast of Scotland to 

 Aberdeen. Fl. summer. 



3. White Mignionette. Reseda alba, Linn. 

 {R. frutieulosa, Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2628.) 



A tall perennial, the lower leaves crowded on the stock or base of the 

 stem, and all deeply puinate, with numerous (9 to 21) linear or lanceolate 

 segments, entire, but waved on the margins. Flowers on short pedicels, 

 mucli wliiter than in the two last species. Sepals 5 or 6. Petals as many, 

 all equal, and 3-cleft. Capsule ovoid, with 4, or sometimes 3, 5, or 6 teeth. 



A Mediterranean species, long since introduced into our cottage gardens, 

 and, as an outcast from them, appears to have become naturalized in some 

 parts of the south coasts of England and Ireland. Fl. summer. 



VIII. THE CISTTJS FAmiY. CISTACE^. 



Shrubs or herbs, with opposite, or, in a few exotic species, 

 alternate leaves, with or without stipules ; the flowers in ter- 

 minal racemes. Sepals 3, nearly equal, overlapping each other 

 in the bud, with or without 2 smaller outer ones. Petals 5, 

 or rarely fewer, broadly spreading. Stamens numerous, hypo- 

 gynous, and free. Ovary and style single. Capsule 1-celled, 

 or incompletely divided into several cells, opening in 3, 5, or 

 10 valves, which bear along their centre as many placentas or 

 imperfect partitions. Seeds several, the embryo curved, im- 

 bedded in albumen. 



