110 PENTANDRIA PENTAGVNIA. Linum. 



1, L. usisatissimum. Willd. 1. 1533. 



Annual, ramous. Calyx and capsules mucronate. Pe- 

 tals crenate. Leaves alternate, lanceolate. 



Sans. Utusee. 



Hind. Tisi. 



Beng. Mushina. 



Much cultivated over the Northern parts of India for 

 the seed, from which the Hindoos extract the oil. They 

 make no use of any other part of the plant. 



2. L. trigynum. R. 



Shrubbv. Leave-i alternate, oval. Filaments united at 

 the base with alternate sterile bristles. Styles three. Cap' 

 sules six-valved, twelve-celled. 



Hind. Gool ashruf. 



This beautitul plant I have only met with in the gar- 

 den of the curious about Calcutta, though it is indigenous 

 in Hindoosthan, and the eastern parts of Bengal. Flow- 

 ering time, the cold season. It grows readily from 

 bits of the root; consequently, is easily propagated ; it is 

 indeed, a troublesome, though beautiful weed. 



Stem or rather branches numerous, sub-erect, the whole 

 shrub about two or three feet high. Bark ash-coloured. 

 Leaves alternate, short-petioled, ovate-oblong, with a 

 bristle-like point, the larger are most minutely serrate 

 toward the apex ; both sides smooth, size very various. 

 Stijndes minute. F/oaers solitary, peduncled, large, of 

 a bright, deep, rich yellow colour, inodorous. Bractes 

 none, unless some small floral leaves ^hich surround the 

 peduncles near the base may be so called. Calyx five- 

 leaved ; leaflets lanceolate, acute, smooth, erect, perma- 

 nent. Petals five, claws the length of the calyx, forming 

 as it were a tube. Border flat, round, entire, inserted 

 below the bristles, into the ring formed round the germ by 

 the union of the base of the filaments, on the outside of 

 the neck of each petal are two small toothlets. Filaments 



