us 



large: the stamina have five awl-shaped filaments, upright, length of 

 the calyx (also five rudiments, alternating): antheis simple, arrowed: 

 the j)istilium is an ovate germ : styles five, filifiDrm, upright, length 

 of the stamens: stigmas simple, reflex: the pericarpium a globose 

 capsule, rudely pentagonal, tcn-valved, gaping at the tip: partitions 

 membranaceous, very thin, connecting the valves: the seeds solitary 

 ovate-flattish, acuminated, smooth. 



The species are: \. L.usitatissimum, Conmion Flax; 2. L. pe- 

 reiDie, Perennial Flax; S.L.sufj'niticosum, Shrubby Flax; 4. L. arho^ 

 rcum. Tree Flax; 5. L. Africaniun, African Flax. 



The first has an annual, simple, fibrous, pale brown root : the stem 

 upright, eighteen inches, two tieet, and even more in height, round, 

 smooth, leafy, branched only at top; the leaves are sessile, growing 

 close together, almost upriglit, perfectly entire: the flowers large, 

 growing in a panicle, on round smooth peduncles: the calycine leaf- 

 lets ovate-keeled, with a ujcnibranous edge, when magnified appear- 

 ing to be fringed with hairs: the petals wedge-shaped, deciduousj 

 sky-blue, streaked with deeper-coloured lines; white at the claws, 

 and somewhat gnawed at the ti]). It is a native of Egypt, flowering 

 in June and July. 



It may be said to be one of the most valuable plants in the whole 

 vegetable kingdom; as from the bark of its stalks is manufactured 

 flax or lint, for making all sorts of linen cloth; from the cloth, when 

 worn to rags, is made paper: and from the seeds of the plant linseed 

 oil is expressed, which is much used by painters, and in other arts ; 

 and the refuse, after expression, f )rms the oil-cakes so valuable in the 

 fattening of cattle and sheep. 



In the second species, from its perennial root rise three or four 

 inclining stalks, having short narrow leaves towards their base, but 

 scarcely any about tiie top: the flowers are produced at the ends of 

 the stalks, sitting very close ; they are blue, and about the size of the 

 cultivated sorl, being succeeded by pretty large round seed vessels, 

 ending in acute points. Its flowers appear from June to August, 

 and are of a delicate texture and very elegant blue colour, and the 

 roots continue four or five years. 



