1326 



LINUM* 



mexicanum. 



Meaiican Flax, 



i< 



PENTANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 



Nat. ord. LiNE^. 



LINUM. 



SuprH, vol U.fol. 1163. 



.y 



1 



li. mexicanum,; glabrum, erectum, superne paniculato-ramosum; foliis sparsis, 

 ovatis V. ovato-oblongis, acutis, basi rotundatis ; sepalis ovatis, acutis, 

 subciliatis; stylis ad medium connatis; stigmatibus globosis ; capsulis 

 acuto-mucronatis. Bentham. , , 



Linum mexicanum. Humboldt^ BonpL et Kunth nova genera et sp. pi. 6. 

 p. 39. Dec. prodr. 1. 424. 



.^ 



Our drawing of this rare species of Flax was made in August last, at 

 Mr. Tate's Nursery. It is a very pretty half-hardy perennial, native of 

 woods near Santa Rosa, in Mexico, where it was found by Humboldt and 

 Bonpland. Probably propagated % cuttings. 



I 



are indebted to Mr. Bentham. 



ighbo 



V 



-■ ■ 



" The coalition of the styles in this, and several other species of yellow 



^nums. IS » rliJirQi^fiai. wUi'i^U om^i^oi-c« ^f\ Koira Ko<in oronprallv nvprlnnlcpfl in the 



distinction of the 



Macrcei 



apex : m the above L. mexicanum, and in the L. africanum Linn. (L. tnono- 

 Uynum Forst.), and L. repens Hamilt., the styles are connate up to about 

 uje middle of their length ; and at the base only in the L, cethiopicum 

 Anunb. (L. africanum Reichb. icon. exot. t. 46, non Linn.), rigidum Pursh, 

 ^^rginianum Linn., and mysurense Heyne. In the L. gallicum Linn., 

 awreim W. et K., setaceum Broil (L. bicolor Schousb.), luteolum Bieb., 



^odifloj^^ Linn., stricfum. Unn. rnrumhiferum Desf.. maritimum Linn., 



quadrifoli 



bifi 



tyles are entirely distinct from their base. 



/ 



, According to De Theis, the Celtic llin, thread, is the origin of linseed, 

 ."*'' "num, linen, linnett, and similar words. The use of linum or flax 

 ^ould therefore appear to be of very high antiquity. 



