56 DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 



stamens ; stigmas capitate. Capsules generally pointed with 

 the hardened base of the styles, many-celled ; each cell par- 

 tially divided in two by an imperfect spurious dissepiment, 

 and opening by two valves at the apex. Seeds solitary, in 

 each spurious cell, compressed, pendulous. Albumen thin, 

 fleshy ; embryo straight, with the radicle next the hilum ; co- 

 tyledons flat. 



Herbs or small shrubs. Leaves entire, usually alternate. 

 Flowers terminal, with the petals fugitive. 



1. LINUM. Linn, 



Sepals 5, persistent. Petals 5, unguiculate. Stamens 5, 

 with the filaments united at base. Styles 5, very rarely 3. 

 Capsule superior, subglobose, 10-valved, 10-celled. Seeds 

 solitary, ovate, compressed. Pentandria. Pentagynia. 



1. L. virginianum Linn. : stem erect, slender, smooth ; radical leaves 

 ovate and spatulate ; those of the stem linear-lanceolate, alternate ; 

 panicle lax, corymbose ; sepals acute ; capsule globose, awnless. 



HAB. Hills and fields. N, Y. to Car. July, Aug. Q.Stem 

 12 feet high, slender. Flowers small, yellow, in a dichoto* 

 mous panicle. Virginian Flax. 



2. L. usitatissimum Linn. : stem mostly solitary, round, smooth, sim- 

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

 peduncles ; segments of the calyx ovate, acute ; petals crenate ; cap. 

 eule roundish, acuminate. 



HAB. Fields. June, July. Q. Flowers large, blue. Introduc- 

 ed. Common Flax. 



ORDER XXI. MALVACEAE. De Cand. Land. 



Sepals 5, very seldom 3 or 4, more or less united at tho 

 base, with a valvate estivation, often bearing external bracts 

 forming an involucrum. Petals equal in number to the se- 

 pals, hypogynous. Stamens indefinite ; Jilaments monadel- 

 phous, often bearing the petals on their base. Anthers l-cell- 

 ed, reniform. Ovary formed by the union of several carpels 

 round a common axis, either distinct or cohering ; styles as 

 many as the carpels, united or free ; stigmas variable. Fruit 

 capsular or berried ; its carpels being either one or many- 

 seeded, sometimes united in one, sometimes separate or sepa- 

 rable. Seeds sometimes hairy. Albumen none, or small ; 

 embryo curved with twisted and doubled cotyledons. 



