Erect annual or biennial, to c. 25 cm high; stems papillose. Leaves spathulate, long-cuneate, 5–10 cm long, sometimes with 1(–2) lobes on each side. Bracts persistent; pedicels 4–15 mm long; sepals 5 or 6, linear-oblanceolate, becoming larger in fruit, 3–13 mm long, persistent; petals 6, cream to yellow, larger petals 3-lobed, lateral lobes pinnately lobed with linear-oblanceolate segments, other petals more or less entire; stamens c. 12–16; filaments deciduous. Capsule nodding, obovoid-cylindric, 10–18 mm long, 3-toothed; seed dull, rugose. Flowers c. May.
VRiv. Also SA. Although reported only once as a weed of irrigated pasture near Nagambie (and apparently eradicated), this species is potentially invasive and likely to occur elsewhere.
The Common Mignonette (R. odorata L.) is grown for its scented flowers and may persist in abandoned gardens. It is similar to R. phyteuma but has subglobose capsules c. 1 cm long, and oblanceolate to obovate leaves.
Source:
Entwisle, T.J. (1996). Resedaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 459–461. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
