PEXTANDRIA 79 



ORDER 4. 



GRASS OF PARNASSUS. Of this plant there tetragy- 



is only this one species j and it is the only English [ 



plant of this Order. It is a native of most parts of Four Pistiih* 

 Europe, by the side of bogs and moors, and in wet 

 meadows. It produces milk-white flowers in August 

 and September. The petals are veined with pellucid 

 lines ; but that part of th e flower which is called the 

 nectary, of which there are five, set round with nu- 

 merous yellow glands, supported on foot-stalks, is 

 more curiously constructed than is to be found in any 

 other British flower. 



ORDER 5. 



FLAX blossoms in June and July ; whether it be pentagt- 

 i native of England or not is doubtful. yiA - 



Flax appears to have been cultivated as early as we rive Pistiii?., 

 have any historical knowledge ; it is mentioned in the 

 Old Testament as cultivated in Egypt." It is a tall, 

 slender, annual plant, with a beautiful blue flower. 

 When it is ripe it is pulled up by the roots by hand, 

 and laid in water to soak till it begins to rot; it is then 

 taken out, spread in the air to dry, and is tit for tha 



u Exodus, chi :x. v. 3i,. 



