236 XVII. EESEDACEiE. 



Trees. Leaves 2-3-imparipinnate ; leaflets very caducous ; stipules deciduous. 

 Flowers ^ , irregular, in panicled racemes. Calyx 6-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 8-10, 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. Ovaet pedicelled, l-ceUed, with three parietal slender 

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

 ovules n,umerous [bi-seriate] , pendulous, anatropous, [raphe ventral]. Capsule 

 siliquiform, S-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; chalaza apical, corky. Embkto straight, exalbuminous ; cotyledons 

 plano-convex, fleshy [plumule many-leaved] ', radicle very short, superior. 



ONI,Y GENUS. 

 Moiinga. 



The genus Munnga kas been by some botanists placed in Papilionacece on account of a slight resem- 

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

 with Violayiete, 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 anatropous ovules; 

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

 Capparidem that we must search for the real aiflnities of Moringets, through tbeir polypetalous imbricate 

 corolla, perigynism, stamens more numerous than petals, stipitate one-celled ova^ y, parietal placentation, 

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

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

 Horse-radish, and associating Morinya also with Crnciferre, themselves so closely allied to Capparidece. 



Moringece are tropical Asiatic, Arabian and Madagascan trees. The best known species is Moringa 

 ajitera, 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 otM. pterg{/osperma 

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

 great quantities from its bark. — Ed.]. 



XVII. RESEDACEJE, B.C. 



Calyx 4-8-j3ari'iie. Petals generally hypogynous, 4-8 {rarely 2 or 0). Stamens 

 ^-iO, inserted within a fleshy disk. 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 S-'Oo-fid, simple, or furnished with a basal scale, free, or rarely 



