238 XVIII. CISTINE^. 



1-celled ovary, closed or gaping at the top, with many-ovuled parietal placentas, 

 more rarely distinct, or sub-coherent at the base, many-ovuled and with basilar 

 placentation, gaping [Gaylusea], or 1-2-ovuled and closed (Astroearpus) ; stigmas 

 sessile, terminating the 2-lobed top of the carpels ; ovules campy lotropous or half- 

 anatropous. Fruit usually a capsule, indehiscent, closed or gaping at the top, 

 rarely a berry {Oehradenus) , sometimes follicular (Astroearpus). Seeds reniform, 

 exalbuminous, epidermis membranous, adhering to the testa, or detaching when 

 ripe ; testa crustaceous. Embeyo curved or folded ; cotyledons incumbent ; radicle 

 near the hilum. 



GENERA. 

 Astroearpus. Randonia. Caj'lusea. *Keseda. Oehradenus. Oligomeris. 



The small family of Resedacece is allied to Cniciferai and Capparidecs (see these families). It also 

 approaches Moringew in its irregular polypetalous flowers, fleshy disk, stamens more numerous than the 

 petals, parietal placentation, capsular fruit, exalbuminous embryo, alternate stipulate leaves, and finally in 

 the acrid principle found in the root of several species ; but Moringem are separated by their habit, 

 arborescent stem, two-three-pinnate leaves, straight embryo, filaments united into a tube above the 

 middle, and one-celled anthers. 



Most Resedacece grow in southern Europe, northern Africa, Syria, Asia Minor and Persia. Some roach 

 the Indian frontier; a few inhabit central and northern Europe. Three species belong to the Cape of 

 Good Hope. 



Mesedacea, so named because sedative qualities were formerly attributed to them, are no longer used 

 in medicine, in spite of the acridity of their root, which contributes, with other characters, to bring them 

 near Cntciferce and CapparidecB ; the root of Meseda hitea in particular has the odour of the Radish, and was 

 long reckoned an aperient, sudorific and diuretic. Dyer's Weed {R. hiteola) has iutenselj' bitter leaves, and 

 all parts yield a yellow dye much in demand. Mignonette (R. odoratd), a plant whose origin was long 

 considered unknown, but which Griffith asserts to be a native of Affghanistan, is extensively cultivated 

 for its sweet scent. 



XVIII. CISTINE^. 



(CiSTi, Jussien. — Cistoide^, Ventenat. — C1STINE..3E, D.G. — Cistace^, Lindl.) 



Petals 5—3, hypogynous. Stamens 00, hypogynons. Ovaet l-celled, with 3-5 

 parietal placentas. OYVh^s orthotropous. Style simple. CavsvIjE with th& placentas 

 on the centre of the valves. Seeds albuminoiis. Embrto bent, coiled or folded. 



Herbs, undesshrubs, or shrubs ; stem and branches terete or sub-tetragonous, 

 often glandular, pubescent or tomentose, with simple or sometimes stellate hairs. 

 Leaves simple, opposite, rarely alternate, sometimes whorled, entire, sessile or 

 petioled ; stipules foliaceous, free at the contracted base of the petiole, or when 

 the petiole is amplexicaul. Flowers ? , regular, terminal, solitary, or in cymes or 

 unilateral racemes, peduncle outside of the axil of the bracts. Sepals 3, twisted in 

 bud, often furnished with 2 usually smaller calyciform bracts. Petals hypogynous, 

 5, very rarely 3, or {Lechea), twisted in aestivation in an opposite direction to the 

 sepals, scarcely clawed, spreading, very fugacious. Stamens 00, hypogynous ; fila- 

 ments free, filiform ; anthers 2-celled, introrse, ovoid or lanceolate, dehiscence 

 longitudinal. Ovabt free, sessile, l-celled, or with 3-5 imperfect cells formed by 



