20G PENTA^DRIA. PENTAGYMA. 



Species. 1. S. ,inr:eria. (Thrift, Sea Giliiflower.) 



LiMONiuM. Flowers scsiUered, upon a paniculated 

 or spiked scape, or leafy stem. 



Species. 2. cr.roHukina. (AiYierican Sea Lavender.) 

 Apparently a mere variety of *^'- Limonhim. The leaf ii^ 

 obovate-laiiceolate, mucronate below the apex, entire and 

 veinless; the scape alternately and numerously branched? 

 wmuli coryinb(>se, teeth of the calix acme, flowers of an 

 degant blue, each subtended by 2 very unequal biactes. 



This numerous genus of near 50 species is principally 

 indij^-enous to the sea-coasts of the south of Europe, ex- 

 tending into liarbary, Egypt, Siberia and Lesser Asia, 

 tliere are also 5 species at the Cape of Good Hope, in the 

 southern hemisphere. 



299. LINUM. L. (Flax.) 



Calix 5-partcd, persistent. Fdah 5, inigui- 

 rulale. Capsule superior, lO-valved, lO-celled. 

 Seed solitary. (Filaments of the stamina united 

 at the base.) 



Herbaceous and sufFruticose; leaves mostly alternate; 

 flowers solitary, axillary, or; rarely coming out opposite 

 tlifi leaves, at the summit corymbose, racemose or dis- 

 persed. 



Species. 1. L. vsitatissimum. Scarcely naturalized. 



2. perenve. {L. Lc-ci'hii, Parsh.) On cultivating both in 

 ihe same garden, 1 have not been able to detect any spe- 

 cific difference betwixt the European and American 

 plant. That of the Missouri was, iiowever, smaller, and 

 the seeds of a paler colour. Hab. Commencing about 

 Fort Mandan, and becoming more abundant towards the 

 mountains; grovving on the declivities of water courses. 



3. virginiciun. Throughout the Atlantic spates, and in 

 Upper Louisiana. 4. rigidirfu Obs. Stem rigid, angular, 

 grooved; leaves subsetaceous, short, and erect; margin 

 of the calix leaves glandulously ciliate; petals cuneate-ob- 

 jong; seed pale brown. — Hab. Around Fort Ivlandan. 

 About 6 inches high, flowers pale yellow. 5. striatum. 

 Carolina. 



The rem2:inder of this extensive genus, with the excep- 

 tion of 3 species in tropical America, 1 in Xew Zealand, 

 and 3 at the Cape of Good Hope, is indigenous to Europe. 

 - principally to the scytn, ex; ending also into Barbary &nd 

 the Levant. 



