PENTANDRIA. 



ORDER IV. TETRAGYNIA. Stamens 5. Styles 4. 



Fig. 161. 



This order contains only two genera. 

 GENUS Parnassia, Fig. 161. Grass of 

 Parnassus. Name from Mount Parnas- 

 sus the abode of grace and beauty, where 

 ft is said this elegant little plant was first 

 round. There are several species of this 

 genus, of which two are natives of this 

 country. The Carolina Parnassia is 

 ibout six inches high, with radical leaves 

 aearly orbicular, as represented in the 



Irawing. The flower is white, single, 



,nd beset with nectaries, which might be 



mistaken for anthers. 



ORDER V. PENTAGYNIA. Stamens 5. Styles 5. 



This order includes a considerable number of plants, 

 . *:>ong which we find Flax and Sea Lavender. 



GENUS Linum. Flax. Linum comes from the Celtic Llin, 

 which signifies a thread. The genus contains a large num- 

 ber of species, but the only one of any considerable use is 

 the common Flax, Linum usitatissimum.) This has been cul- 

 tivated for its thread, or fibre, from the remotest antiquity. 

 Of \vAat country it is a native, or whether it was not origi- 

 nally common to many countries, is at present unknown. 

 The bodies of Egyptian mummies, said by certain proofs, to 

 be moie than 3000 years old, are enveloped in folds of fine 

 linen doth. Such are the oldest specimens of the art of spin- 

 ning auJ weaving extant. But judging from the fineness and 

 beauty of these fabrics, the art must have been practised long 

 before such specimens were produced. 



GENUO Statice. Sea Lavender. This is a large genus ol 

 ornamenud plants. They are mostly evergreen shrubs, 

 growing irom a few inches to three feet in height. Many 

 are native? of Russia and Siberia, and one or two herbaceous 

 species arc found in North America. In Europe they are 

 cultivated as ornamental plants, but are still not very common. 



ORDER VI. POLYGYNIA. Stamens 5. Styles many. 



This order, instead of containing six styles, or pistils, 

 which would be its number, could we proceed numerically, 

 as with the other orders, contains plants with an uncertain 



To what class and order does common flax belong 1 



