LINAGES. 183 



in some individuals the stamens are longer than the styles, while 

 in others they are shorter. 



I have not ventured to quote Reichenbach's figure of L. perenne 

 (1. c. Tab. CCCXXXVI. Fig. 5159), because he has there repre- 

 sented the sepals (even the inner ones) acuminated at tlie apex. 

 His figure of L. alpinum (Tab. CCCXXXV. Fig. 5160) has these 

 organs much more like those of our L. perenne. It is most pro- 

 bable that L. alpinum (Jacq.), L. Leonii (F. Schultz), L. austriacum 

 (Linn.), etc. are only sub-species of L. perenne ; indeed, M. Plan- 

 chon considers them as mere varieties. This is probably the case 

 with L. alpinum ; but L. austriacum, with its reflexed fruit pedicels, 

 appears to be more than a variety. Should it prove that this is the 

 case, and that it is a sub-species, the British plant should bear 

 Miller's name of Linum anglicum. 



Perennial Flax. 



French, Lin Vivace. German, Ausdauernder Lein. 



Some years ago this species of Flax was recommended for cultivation as a fibre 

 plant ; but it has been little adopted, the fibre being coarser and the seeds smaller 

 than those of the common Flax. As the plant will last several years, and yields an 

 abundant crop of stems, it has been thought that it might be used for making paper. 

 The seeds contain the same sort of oil as those of the ordinary species. 



SPECIES III.— LINUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM. Hudti. 



Plate CCXCI. 

 Beich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. VI. ILjp. Tab. CCCXXIX. Fig. .5158 (5154). 



Rootstock very short, scarcely woody, or none. Stems rather 

 few, more rarely solitary, sub-erect, slightly branched, with the 

 branches divaricate. Leaves strap-shaped or linear, attenuated at 

 each end, acute at the apex, not crowded, spreading-ascending. 

 Flowers few, in terminal pseudo-racemes usually combined into 

 corymbose panicles. Two outer sepals elliptical- acuminate, with 

 narrow entire membranous margins ; three inner ones oval, cus- 

 pidate, with broad membranous fimbriate-ciliate margins ; all indis- 

 tinctly 3-nerved, with only the middle nerve reaching the apex. 

 Capsule mucronate, with the edges of the dissepiments in the 

 interior downy. 



On dry banks and borders of fields. Not uncommon in the 

 South and West of England ; extending northward as far as 

 Lancashire and the Isle .of Man on the "West, and to Norfolk 

 on the East side of the island. 



England, Ireland. Annual or Perennial. Summer 

 and Autumn. 



