LESSON 31.] THE MALLOW. 189 



(at least with a hand magnifying-glass), or else blackish and opaque. 

 There are no dots ; we accordingly take the alternative below, with 

 two stars. 



547. We next ask (under - ) whether the pistil or pistils are sim- 

 ple. There are five separate styles, but only one ovary, which, when 

 cut across (Fig. 365) is found to be divided within by partitions into 

 several cells. It is therefore a compound pistil (311), which ex- 

 cludes the plant from the section -f ; while the cells being more 

 than one exclude it from the section -t -H-, and bring it under the 

 section -j H (p. xix). 



548. The next question (under ++) is, Are the flowers irregular 

 or regular? Clearly regular (239, 244). We therefore take the 

 subdivision marked -n- ++, and follow the analysis under it, begin- 

 ning with the word " Stamens." Having five of these, and the same 

 number of petals, our plant is excluded from the first line, and also 

 from the second, but falls into the remaining alternative, " Stamens 

 just as many or twice as many as the petals." Under this comes the 

 line, " Ovules and seeds only one or two in each cell." That is the 

 case with our plant, Furthermore, it is an herb, and accordingly 

 falls into one of the two succeeding lines. Its perfect flowers (239), 

 and its styles as many as the petals, exclude it from the first, and 

 refer it to the second line. Under this are three alternatives, com- 

 mencing with the word " Sepals." The second, with five sepals and 

 petals, and the pod (more or less completely) 10-celled, alone accords 

 with our plant, and brings us to the name of the order it belongs to, 

 viz. LINAGES, described on page 70. 



549. We turn to this page, and find that the plant agrees well 

 with the brief character of the order Linacese, or the Flax Family ; 

 and also with that of the only genus it comprises, viz. LiNtnr. 



550. As to the species, of course it does not agree with either of 

 the sorts of Wild Flax ; but it is barely mentioned at the end under 

 its specific name of USITATISSIMUM, it being occasionally found spon- 

 taneous in fields where it has lately been cultivated. If we find a 

 wild, yellow-flowered Flax with these same general characters, and 

 having broadish leaves and distinct styles, it would be L. Virgini- 

 ctnum ; if with narrower and pointed leaves, and the styles partly 

 united, L. Boottn. 



551 After one or two analyses of this kind, the student will be 

 able to pass rapidly over most of these steps. Suppose, for instance, 

 a common Mallow to be the next subject. Having flowers and seeds, 



