﻿FLAX 
  FAMILY 
  143 
  

  

  distinct. 
  Ovary 
  1, 
  3-angled, 
  made 
  up 
  of 
  3-5 
  1-ovuled 
  carpels 
  ; 
  

   style 
  1 
  ; 
  stigmas 
  3-5. 
  Fruit 
  not 
  opening. 
  

  

  TROP-ffiOLUM 
  L. 
  

  

  Characteristics 
  of 
  the 
  genus 
  those 
  of 
  the 
  family 
  above 
  given, 
  

   together 
  with 
  the 
  following 
  : 
  

  

  Petals 
  usually 
  5, 
  clawed, 
  the 
  2 
  upper 
  inserted 
  at 
  the 
  mouth 
  

   of 
  the 
  spur 
  and 
  unlike 
  the 
  3 
  lower 
  ones. 
  Stamens 
  8, 
  ripening 
  

   unequally, 
  the 
  filaments 
  curved. 
  Fruit 
  3-celled, 
  3-seeded. 
  Cul- 
  

   tivated 
  from 
  S.A. 
  for 
  the 
  very 
  showy 
  flowers 
  and 
  the 
  sharp- 
  

   flavored 
  fruits, 
  which 
  are 
  often 
  pickled. 
  

  

  1. 
  T. 
  majus 
  L. 
  COMMON 
  NASTURTIUM. 
  Climbing 
  by 
  the 
  petioles 
  

   6-8 
  ft. 
  (there 
  is 
  also 
  a 
  low 
  variety 
  which 
  does 
  not 
  climb). 
  Leaves 
  

   roundish 
  but 
  more 
  or 
  less 
  6-angled, 
  peltate, 
  with 
  the 
  petiole 
  attached 
  

   near 
  the 
  middle. 
  Flowers 
  varying 
  from 
  almost 
  white 
  to 
  nearly 
  black, 
  

   but 
  commonly 
  crimson, 
  scarlet, 
  or 
  flame 
  color. 
  

  

  51. 
  LINACEJE. 
  FLAX 
  FAMILY 
  

  

  Herbs, 
  shrubs, 
  or 
  trees. 
  Leaves 
  usually 
  alternate, 
  simple, 
  

   entire, 
  sometimes 
  with 
  stipules. 
  Flowers 
  variously 
  clustered. 
  

   Sepals 
  5, 
  distinct 
  or 
  united. 
  Petals 
  5, 
  hypogynous. 
  Stamens 
  

   5, 
  monadelphous 
  below. 
  Pod 
  8-10-seeded, 
  with 
  twice 
  as 
  many 
  

   cells 
  as 
  there 
  are 
  styles. 
  

  

  LINUM 
  L. 
  

  

  Herbs 
  or 
  small 
  shrubs, 
  with 
  tough, 
  fibrous 
  bark. 
  Leaves 
  

   sessile. 
  Flowers 
  in 
  corymbs 
  or 
  panicles. 
  Sepals 
  5, 
  entire. 
  

   Petals 
  5, 
  distinct 
  or 
  united 
  below, 
  falling 
  in 
  a 
  few 
  hours 
  after 
  

   expanding. 
  

  

  1. 
  L. 
  usitatissimum 
  L. 
  COMMON 
  FLAX. 
  Stem 
  erect, 
  with 
  corymbed 
  

   branches 
  at 
  the 
  top. 
  Leaves 
  narrowly 
  lanceolate. 
  Flowers 
  handsome, 
  

   large, 
  blue. 
  Cultivated 
  for 
  the 
  fiber. 
  From 
  Europe; 
  introduced 
  here 
  

   to 
  some 
  extent. 
  

  

  2. 
  L. 
  virginianum 
  L. 
  WILD 
  FLAX. 
  Stem 
  rather 
  slender, 
  erect 
  

   and 
  cylindrical; 
  branches 
  cylindrical. 
  Leaves 
  small, 
  varying 
  from 
  

   oblong 
  to 
  lanceolate 
  or 
  spatulate, 
  the 
  lower 
  often 
  opposite. 
  Flowers 
  

   small, 
  yellow. 
  Capsules 
  flattened 
  at 
  right 
  angles 
  to 
  the 
  pedicels. 
  Dry 
  

   woods 
  and 
  pastures. 
  

  

  