358 COLLEGE BOTANY 



LINAGES (Flax Family). 1 Herbs, occasionally shrubs; 

 leaves alternate, simple; flowers in racemes or corymbs, sym- 

 metrical ; sepals five (sometimes four or six) ; petals same in 



FIG. 200. Peanut plant with the elongated stems sending seeds into the soil shown at right 



and left. 



number as sepals; stamens equal to petals and alternate with 

 them, united at the base; carpels three to five, united at base to 

 form a compound, dry, capsular fruit. The most important 

 member of the family is the flax plant. 



