350 HYPOPETALER. 
ORDER XCIX. 
LINE. 
Cuaracters.—Herbs or shrubs, generally with alternate 
undivided leaves, without stipules ; calyx generally of 5 se- 
pals (3 to 5), persistent ; corolla of 5 petals, clawed, cadu- 
cous, twisted in exstivation; stamens 5 or 10, with the fila- 
ments united at the base, anthers innate; ovary with 5 or 
10 cells, and as many styles, and 1 ovule at the upper part 
of the internal angle of each cell ; pericarp a globular cap- 
_ sule with many I-seeded cells, dehiscing by as many valves 
as there are cells; seeds compressed, and destitute of 
albumen. 
Exampre-—Flax (Linum usitatissimum). 
Economicat Prorerties.—The uses of Linum usitatis- 
simum are well known : the stems furnish flax, and the seeds 
furnish linseed-oil, while the cake which remains after the 
oil has been expressed, is used for picnics cattle, and known 
by the name of oil-cake. 
_ Mepicrinat Prorertres.—Linseed is a valuable emollient 
and demulcent, and is much employed in medicine for poul- 
tices, ‘fomentations, a kind of tea, &c. ; the seeds contain a 
_ great quantity of mucilage and of a bland fixed oil. The 
= mucilage resides in the testa or episperm, while the oil is 
= found in the kernel or seed. enn Sek Gaeeen eathert 
eum) i is a mild purgative. 
Officinal Plants. 
Linum usitatissimum, 
