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Electronic Flora of South Australia genus Fact Sheet

Family: Resedaceae
Reseda

Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 448 (1753).

Derivation: Latin name for some species of this genus.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Mignonettes.

Description:
Annual or perennial herbs.

Flowers irregular, bisexual, small, bracteolate, in long terminal spike-like racemes; sepals 4-6; petals as many, unequal, the larger with a scale-like claw and a 3-14-cleft limb; 10-32 stamens and the ovary inserted on a fleshy disc; carpels usually 3 or 4; styles 3 or 4, short; ovary 1-celled, summit gaping or rarely closed; ovules parietal, in 1 or more irregular rows, pendulous, numerous.

Fruit a capsule, 3- or 4-angled, with 3 or 4 apical teeth; seeds more or less reniform, smooth, papillose or rugose, embryo curved.

Distribution:  About 55 species in Eurasia and North Africa.

Biology: No text

Key to Species:
1. Leaves entire; sepals and petals 3 or 4; superior petal 5-7-lobed, lobing more or less one-third the length of the petal; seeds smooth, shiny, c. 1 mm long
R. luteola 3.
1. Leaves divided; sepals and petals 5 or 6
 
2. Sepals and petals 5; superior petal 3- or 4-lobed, lobing more or less half the length of the petal; seeds dull, granular, 1.25-1.5 mm long
R. alba 1.
2. Sepals and petals 6
 
3. Superior petal 3-lobed; seeds smooth, shiny, 1.5-2 mm long
R. lutea 2.
3. Superior petal multipartite, 9-14-lobed; seeds rugose, shiny, 1.75-2 mm long
R. odorata 4.

Author: Not yet available


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