RESEDACE/E. 89 



definite, but not numerous (about 8 to 24), inserted under the ovary 

 on a glandular disk. Ovary single, with short teeth, each terminating 

 in a very short style or sessile stigma. Capsule green, open at the top 

 long before maturity, containing several seeds, arranged along as many 

 parietal placentas as there were styles. Seeds without albumen. 



The species are not numerous, and chiefly confined to Europe, north- 

 ern Africa, and western Asia. The narrow, insignificant, divided 

 petals, and open capsule, are sufficient to distinguish them from all 

 other British plants. 



Leaves entire 1. Dyer's M. 



Leaves cut or divided. 



Petals white, all divided. Leaves pinnate, with many 



entire segments 3. White M. 



Petals greenish-yellow, one or two of them undivided. 

 Leaves trifid or pinnate, with few segments, often 

 again divided 2. Cut-leaved M. 



The sweet Mignionette of our gardens (It. odorata) is a native of 

 Egypt, nearly allied to the cut-leaved M. 



1. Dyer's Mignionette. Reseda Luteola, Linn. (Fig. 112.) 

 (Eng. Bot. 320. Weld, Yellow Weed, or Dyers Rocket.) 



An erect glabrous annual or biennial, 

 with a hard, stiff, scarcely branched 

 stem, 1 to 2 feet high. Leaves linear or 

 lanceolate, 2 to 3 inches long, entire, 

 but slightly waved on the edges. Elowers 

 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 

 Aberdeen. Long cultivated for the use 

 of dyers, it may not improbably be an 

 introduced plant with us, as in northern 

 Europe generally. Fl. summer. 



Pig. 112. 



