Reseda lutea L.

Biennial to perennial glabrous taprooted herb, 30–80 cm tall; rootstock woody; stems and branches erect to ascending, ribbed, hollow, branched. Lvs obovate-cuneate, 2–10 × 1–7 cm; margins tuberculate, flat or undulate. Basal lvs not lobed or pinnatifid with 1–2 pairs of lobes; upper lvs pinnatifid, with 1–(3) pairs of lobes, constricted above lobes; lobes narrow-obovate, becoming linear, rarely again pinnatifid. Pedicels erecto-patent, (3)–5–8 mm long. Sepals usually 6, linear. Petals yellow, usually 6; limbs of posterior pair 3-fid, of lateral pair 2–3-fid, of anterior pair 1–(3)-fid. Stamens 12–20; filaments falling before fr. ripens. Capsule oblong to ellipsoid, usually tuberculate, rarely smooth, (6)–10–18 × (2)–5–8 mm long; carpels 3. Seeds black, smooth, shiny, 1.5–2 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Oct.–Dec.–(Feb.); Fruiting: Nov.–Feb.