Reseda. | VII, RESEDACEZ. 51 
ceolate, 2 to 3 inches long, entire, but slightly waved on the edges, 
Flowers of a yellowish green, in 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 Ross-shire. Long culti- 
vated for the use of dyers, it may not improbably be an introduced plant 
with us, as in northern Europe generally. FV. summer 
2. R. lutea, Linn. (fig. 114). Cut-leaved Mignonette.—Not so tall as 
R. luteola, much more branched, and less erect. Leaves very variable, but 
always deeply divided, most of them once or twice trifid, but occasionally 
pinnatifid, with few oblong or linear segments, much waved on the margins. 
Flowers on slender pedicels, in long racemes. Sepals usually 6, but some- 
times only 5. Petals as many, of a greenish yellow, the lowest entire or 
2-cleft, the others irregularly divided into 2, 3, or 4. Capsule oblong, with 
3, rarely 4, very short teeth. | 
In waste places, especially in limestone districts, in central and southern 
Europe, 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. 7. summer. 
3. R. alba, Linn. (fig.115). White Mignonette.—A tall perennial, the 
lower leaves crowded on the stock or base of the stem, and all deeply pinnate, 
with numerous (9 to 21) linear or lanceolate segments, entire, but waved on 
the margins. Flowers on short pedicels, much whiter than in the last two 
species. Sepals5 or 6. Petals as many, all equal, and 3-cleft. Capsule 
ovoid, with 4, or sometimes 38, 5, or 6 teeth. LR. fruticulosa, Linn. 
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. #7. summer, 
VIII. CISTACEA, THE CISTUS FAMILY. 
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, 
hypogynous, 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, imbedded in albumen. 
A small Order, spread chiefly over southern and western Europe and 
northern Africa, with a few American species, It corresponds with the + 
E 2 
