Illustrative key for Reseda spp. in the Maltese Islands - by Stephen Mifsud.
Vers V3.82 (beta)

Reseda L.
Mignonettes Demb il-Haruf
Taxa left beyond this couplet: 2 Reseda alba Reseda lutea Description of Reseda Annuals to perennials. Leaves entire, toothed or pinnatifid. Petals usually with dilated base (claw) and lobed distal portion (limb); bases of stamens forming a disc which is often produced dorsally; carpels and stigmas 3 or 4; ovary unilocular; capsule opening more widely at maturity. Leaf-shape is very plastic in most species. It is necessary to observe carefully the shape and dissection of the petals when using the key and care should be taken to distinguish between the upper and the lateral petals. Description by P.F. Yeo extracted from Flora Europaea Vol 1-5 (Tutin et al., 1964-1993)

Reseda key steps >> 1

	Lead 1.A	+	Stamens 4 with filaments persistant on mature fruit	ref	Reseda alba
		+ +	Flowers white with all petal lobes more or less linear	ref
		+ + +	Leaves with 5 or more lateral lobes per side	ref

OR

	Lead 1.B	-	Stamen 3 with filaments falling off at the initial stage of fruit development	ref	Reseda lutea
		- -	Flowers cream with lateral tepal lobes crescent or semi-fusiform	ref
		- - -	Leaves with 1-2 lateral lobes	ref

[A] Illustration of Lead 1.A +	[B] Illustration of Lead 1.B -	Identification Tips

Image of Reseda alba by Stephen Mifsud	Image of Reseda lutea by Stephen Mifsud	-