l-iNtTM. XXVI. LINACEiE. 



E L A T I N E. 



Gr. cXarr], t'v:; from the resemblance of the slender leaves of some species. 



Stigmas sessile, minute. 



E. Americana. Arn. (Crypta minima. Nutt. Peplys Americana. Pk.) 

 Mud Pmrslane. — St. diffuse, procumbent, striate, rooting from the joints, 



with assnrgent branches; Ivs. cuneate-oval or obovate, obtuse, entire; siy. 0; 



Sep., pet., sta. and stig. 2 — 3, as well as the cells and valves of the capsule; slip. 



very minute. — A small mud plant, on the borders of ponds and rivers 1 U. S. 



Flowers axillary, sessile, solitary. Corolla minute, closed. Jl. — Sep. 



Order XXVI. LINAGE.^.— Flaxworts. 



Plants herbaceous or sufirutescent. 



Lvs. entire, sessile, iilternate, sometimes nearly opposite, without .stipules. 



Fls. terminal, usually in corymbs or panicles, regular and symmetrical. 



Cai.— Sepals 3, 4 or 5, distinct, or more or less united; a;stivation strongly imbricated 



Cor. —Petals equal in number to sepals, hypogynous, unguiculate ; aistivatioji twisted. 



Sta. 3, 4 or 5, united at base into a hypogynous ring, which is often toothed, opposite the petais. 



(>IM. of as many cells as sepals or styles. Stig: capitate. 



Sri.1. f.olitaiT in each cell, compressed, suspended. Albumen 0. 



Genera 3, species 90. A very important order in the rut.s. The Luumi has a veiy tenacious fibre in 

 Its b:irk, which is wrought into thread and cloth, forming the Zin^ra of commerce. Some species are 

 calhiirtic, ajid yield fiom their seeds a fine mucilage. Only one genus need be mentioned here, viz. : 



LINUM. 



Celtic ZZ/n, a thread ; hence Xivov, Eug. linen, flax. 



Sepals, petals, stamens and styles 5, the latter rarely 3 ; capsules 

 5-celled ; cells nearly divided by a false dissepiment. (Fig. 11., No. 4.) 



1. L. RiGiDUM. Sfiff-kaved Flax. 



Sf. angular, branching; lis. alternate, rigid, linear, acute; ^5. panicled ; 

 sep. ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, and with the bracts, glandularly fimbriate- 

 serrate on the margins ; caps, globose, shorter than the calyx. — ® Near New 

 Haven, Conn., Bobbins! R. I., found by the Pi-ov. Bot. Assoc. Stem 10 — 16' 

 high, erect, with many suberect branches above. Leaves 4 — 1" by * — 1", sca- 

 brous on the margin. Sepals 3-veined. Flowers 6—8" diam., sulphur-yellow. 



2. L. ViRGiNiiNUM. Virginian Flax. 



St. branching above, erect ; lvs. alternate, linear-lanceolate, those of the 

 •oot oblong, upper ones acute ; panicles corymbose, terminal, with the flowers 

 .acemose on the branches ; scp. broad-ovate, mucronate ; caps, depressea, scarce- 

 ly longer than the calyx. — ® Woods, hills, &c., U. S. and Can. Stem about 

 ■i,^ high, slender, leaty, terete, glabrous. Leaves 6—10" by 1—2", v ith one 

 distinct vein. Flowers 4 — 6" diam., yellow, on short pedicels. Sepals 1- 

 veined. Jl. 



0.7 diffusmn. Wood. — St. angular, diffusely branched ; branches and lanceolate 

 lvs. spreading; /s. very small (scarcely 2" diam.)— Wet prairies, la.! auite 

 different in habit and may prove a new species. 



3. L. usiTATissiMUM. Covwion Flax. • 



St. branching above; lvs. alternate, linear-lanceolate, acute; panicle 

 corymbose; scp. ovate, acute, 3-veined at the base, membranaceous on the mar- 

 f.n ; pet. crenate.— © Introduced and somewhat naturalized in fielcfe. Stem 1— 2f 

 high, with 3-veined leaves, and many large, handsome, blue flowers. Jn. JL— 

 Tills important plant has been cultivated from remote antiquity, (see Gen. xli. 

 42 ) for the strong fibres of the bark, which are manufactured into hnrp.,. The 

 seeds yield linseed oil, so extensively used in mixing paint, printers' ink, &c. 

 They are also medicinal. ^ ij: 



4. L. PERENNE. Pe;-e?i?waZ Mrt.r.— Glabrous, with virgate branches ; tes. linear, 

 acute, scattered; /.<;. supra-axillary and terminal; sepals oval, margins mem- 

 branaceous, shorter than the £:lobose capsule ; petals retuse, blue, 3 or 4 times 

 the length of the sepals.— 7; iSTative We.st of the Miss, (perhaps not within the 

 17* 



