[78 



LIN AC EM. 



[CHAP. 



Like the Mallow and Sterculia Families, to which this 

 Family is closely allied, the species are generally harmless, 

 and more or less mucilaginous ; many of them have also a 

 tenacious liber. From the bark of the European Lime- 

 tree {Tilia) Russia-matting or "bast" is obtained. 



The genus Elceocarpus, including some large Indian trees, 

 belongs to a section of this Family, marked by the anthers 

 dehiscing at their tips. Elseocarpus itself usually has its 

 petals with a deeply-cut margin. The stones of its drupa- 

 ceous fruits are often ornamented and strung together as 

 beads. 



21. Natural Order, Linacece. — The Flax Family. 



Shrubs, herbs, or rarely trees, with alternate, undivided, 

 simple leaves. Sepals imbricate. Stamens more or less 

 coherent below. Styles usually free. 



Type — Liiium trigynu?fi. 

 A shrubby plant, with alternate, simple, entire, smooth 

 leaves, and axillary, regular, yellow, pretty flowers, collected 

 near the ends of the branches. 



Observe the tenacity of the liber, especially in the 

 Common Flax (Z. nsitaiissimiun), a cultivated, slender herb, 

 with fugacious blue flowers : the slight cohesion of the 



