500 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Fig. 904. Fig. 905. 



Fig. 904. Diagram of the flower of the Flax Plant {TAnum usitatissimum). 



Fig. 905. Essential organs of the same, showing the monadelphous 



stamens surrounding the pistil. 



in number to the sepals ; styles 3 — 5 ; stigmas capitate {fig. 905). 

 Fruit capsular, many-celled, each cell more or less perfectly 

 divided into two by a spurious dissepiment proceeding from the 

 doi'sal suture, and having a single seed in each division. Seed 

 with very little or no albumen ; embryo straight, with the 

 radicle towards the hilum. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs, or very rarely shrubs, with exstipulate 

 simple entire leaves. Flowers hypogynous, regular, symme- 

 trical. Sepals, petals, and stamens 3 — 5 each ; the sepals 

 persistent and imbricate ; the petals fugacious and twisted in 

 aestivation ; the stamens united at their base, and having little 

 tooth-like abortive stamens alternating with them. Ovary 

 3 — 5-celled, styles distinct, stigmas capitate. Fruit capsular, 

 many-celled, each cell more or less divided by a spurious 

 dissepiment, and each division containing one seed. Seeds with 

 little or no albumen, and having a straight embryo. 



Distribution, S;c. — Chiefly natives of the south of Europe 

 and the north of Africa, but more or less distributed over most 

 regions of the globe. Examples of the Genera: — Linum, Kadiola. 

 There are 90 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order are generally 

 remarkable for the tenacity of their liber-fibres, and also for the 

 mucilage and oil contained in their seeds ; hence the latter iire 

 emollient and demulcent. A few are bitter and purgative. The 

 most important genus is 



Linum. — The liber -fibres of Linum usitatissimum, when prepared in a 

 particular way, constitute y?a;r, of which linen fabrics are made. Linen, when 

 scraped, foiins lint, which is so much used for surgical dressings. The short 

 fibres of flax, which are separated in the com-se of its preparation, constitute 



