LINAGES. 53 



twice as many as the petals. Styles 2 5, very short, or none ; 

 stigmas capitate. Capsule 2 5-celled, 2 5-valved. Seeds 

 numerous, without albumen ; embryo straight. Small annual 

 plants, found in marshes. Stems fistulous, rooting. Leaves 

 opposite, with minute stipules. 



ELATINE. Linn. Waterwort. 



(From the Greek c\drri } ajir ; its minute leaves somewhat resembling those 

 of the fir tree.) 



Calyx 2 4-parted. Petals 2 4. Stamens 2 8. Cap- 

 sule 2 4-valved ; margin of the valves not introflexed. 



E. Americana Arnott : stems diffuse, rooting and creeping ; leaves cu- 

 neate-obovate, obtuse; flowers minute, sessile; sepals, petals, stamens 

 and sessile stigmas 2, sometimes 3 ; seeds 6 8. (Torr. N. Y. M.) Crypta 

 minima Nutt. Peplis Americana Pursh. 



Banks of streams. Throughout the U. S. July Sept. (p ? Stems rooting 

 and creeping, forming patches. Leaves 23 lines long, entire. Flowers soli- 

 tary, very minute. Petals roundish, white. American Waterwort. 



ORDER XXI. LINACE^E. FLAXWORTS. 

 Sepals 3 5, persistent, with an imbricated aestivation. Pe- 

 tals as many as the sepals, unguiculate, with a twisted aestiva- 

 tion. Stamens as many as the petals, and alternate with them, 

 often with intermediate teeth or abortive stamens. Ovaries of 

 3 5 united carpels ; styles filiform. Capsule globose, 3 5- 

 celled ; each cell partially divided in two by an imperfect spu- 

 rious dissepiment, and opening by 2 valves at the apex. Seeds 

 solitary, with thin albumen and a straight embryo. Herba- 

 ceous plants or small shrubs. Leaves entire, opposite or alter- 

 nate, without stipules. Flowers terminal. 



LINUM. Linn. Flax. 

 (From the Celtic lin, thread.) 



Sepals 5, persistent. Petals 5. Stamens 5, with the fila- 

 ments united at base. Styles 5, very rarely 3. Capsule supe- 

 rior, subglobose, 10-valved, 10-celled. Seeds ovate, com- 



1. L. lisita tissimum Linn. : stem mostly solitary, round, smooth, simple, 

 branched above ; leaves lanceolate, alternate ; flowers large, on peduncles , 

 segments of the calyx ovate, acute ; petals crenate ; capsule roundish, 

 acuminate. 



Fields. June, July. (I). -Stem H to 2 feet high. Leaves distant, 3-rowed 

 Flowers large, purplish-blue. Introduced ; scarcely naturalized. 



Common Flax. 



