The Botany of Hingham. 97 



The Tilia Americana, the well-known Linden or Bass-wood, 

 is native of the town, being generally found near the shore. The 

 species of this family commonly set out as an ornamental tree, 

 is the European Linden. 



The inner bark of the trees of this family is very fibrous and 

 strong. The jute of commerce is the product of one species. 



Tilia, Tourn. 



Americana, L. Linden. Basswood. 



15. LiNACEiE. (Flax Family.) 



An order of mostly herbaceous plants with regular and sym- 

 metrical flowers. The genus Linum, the only one represented 

 in Hingham, has a bark of exceedingly tenacious fibre, from one 

 species of which is formed the Linen Thread and Cloth in common 

 use. The same plant also furnishes seeds which yield the well- 

 known Linseed Oil, Linseed Cake, etc. The seeds are used ex- 

 tensively in medicine, possessing as they do abundant mucilage, 

 which is extracted by boiling water, producing thus Flax-seed 

 tea. There are several other uses which the products of the 

 plants serve, and it may perhaps be said that no one, not fur- 

 nishing food, is more serviceable to man. There is but one 

 species of the genus indigenous in our limits, the L. Virginianum. 

 The other is the Common Flax, found sometimes springing up in 

 fields from scattered seeds. Some species are mildly cathartic. 



Linum, Tourn. 



Virginianum, L. Wild Flax. 

 usitatissimum, L. Flax. Not common. 



16. GERANIACEiE. (GERANIUM FAMILY.) 



Chiefly herbs, with perfect but not always symmetrical flowers. 

 The beauty of our gardens is largely due to plants of this family ; 

 especially to the species of Pelargonium introduced from the 

 Cape of Good Hope, where they are native, and to hybrid 

 varieties. 



The plants generally have an astringent property, and many 

 have a disagreeable odor. The Herb Robert, not uncommon with 

 us, affords a marked instance of this. There are, however, 

 species which give out an aromatic and agreeable fragrance. 



Some plants of the order have edible tubers, and others have 

 leaves which are used as food, being pleasantly acid. 



The G. maculatum, common in every part of the town, has 

 very astringent roots. An infusion of them is used as a gargte. 



Geranium, Tourn. 



maculatum, L. Wild Geranium. 

 Carolinianum, L. Carolina Geranium. 

 Robertianum, L. Herb Robert. 

 vol. i. — 7 



