1326 



LINUM^ mexicanum. 

 Mexican Flax. 



PENTANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 



Nat. ord. Line^e. 



LINUM. — Supr^, vol. 14. fol. 1 163. 



L. mexicanum ; glabrum, erectum, superne paniculato-ramosum; foliis sparsis, 

 ovatis V. ovato-oblongis, acutis, basi rotundatis ; sepalis ovatis, acutis, 

 subciliatis; stylis ad medium connatis ; stigmatibus globosis ; capsulis 

 acuto-mucronatis. Bentham. 



Linum mexicanum. Humboldt, Bonpl. et Kunth nova genera et sp. pi. 6. 

 p. 39. Dec. prodr. 1 . 424. 



Our drawing of this rare species of Flax was made in August last, at 

 Mr. Tate's Nursery. It is a very pretty half-hardy perennial, native of 

 woods near Santa Rosa, in Mexico, where it was found by Humboldt and 

 Bonpland. Probably propagated by cuttings. 



For the following remarks upon this, and some neighbouring species, we 

 are indebted to Mr. Bentham. 



" The coalition of the styles in this, and several other species of yellow 

 Linums, is a character which appears to have been generally overlooked in the 

 distinction of the species. It is very remarkable in the L. Macrcei (described 

 below), where the style is very long, and only slightly quinquefid at the 

 apex : in the above L. mexicanum, and in the L. africanum Linn. (L. mono- 

 gynum Forst.), and L. repens Hamilt., the styles are connate up to about 

 the middle of their length ; and at the base only in the L. rethiopicum 

 Thunb. (L. africanum Reichb. icon. exot. t. 46, non Linn.), rigidum Pursh, 

 virginianum Linn., and mysurense Heyne. In the L. gallicum Linn., 

 aureum W, et K., setaceum Brot. (L. bicolor Schousb.), luteolum Bieb., 

 nodijlorum Linn., strictum Linn., corymbiferum Desf., maritimuni Linn., 

 glandulosumMcench.., quadrifolium Linn., trigynum Roxb., and tetragynum 

 Colebr., the styles are entirely distinct from their base. 



* According to De Theis, the Celtic llin, thread, is the origin of linseed, 

 xi\ioy, linum, linen, linnett, and similar words. The use of linum or flax 

 would therefore appear to be of very high antiquity. 



