14. 



LINUM NARBONENSE. 



Narbonne Flax. 



Pentandrta. Pentagynia. 



Class 5. Order 5. 



LiNUM (Aivov of Dioscorides, Theophrastus, and other Greek au- 

 thors) appears to be derived from Xivstv, to hold; the fibres of this 

 plant being so remarkable for their tenacity. 



Linn. gen. n. 389. Linn. spec. 398. Linn. syst. 302. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Cal. Perianth five-leaved, lanceolate, upright, small, permanent. Cor. 

 funnel-form. Petals five, oblong, gradually wider above, obtuse, 

 Stam. Filaments five, awl-shaped, upright, length of the calyx. 

 Anthers simple, arrowed. Pist. Germ ovate. Styles five, filiform, 

 upright, length of the stamens. Stigmas simple, reflex. Per. Cap- 

 sule globose, rudely pentagonal, ten-valved, gaping at the tip. 

 Partitions membranaceous, very thin, connecting the valves. Seeds 

 solitary, ovate-flattish, acuminated, smooth. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Calyxes acuminate. Leaves lanceolate, stiff, rugged, acuminate. 

 Stem round, branched at the base. Filaments connate. 



Stem from a foot to eighteen inches in height, branching 

 out almost to the bottom with many long slender branches. 

 Flowers at the extremity of the branches of a fine blue colour. 

 The seed-vessels are small; calyxes large, lanceolate, membra- 



