I ] LINAGES. 133 



carpel. Note, also, the tendency to a dimorphic con- 

 dition in some species of Flax, manifest in the different 

 relative lengths of stamens and pistil in different indi- 

 viduals of the same species ; a natural contrivance to 

 favour the crossing of the flowers by insect agency. 



The words line, linen, linseed, lint, and the Latin word 

 Linum, are said to be derived from the Celtic word ///;/, 

 thread. Flax has been cultivated from time immemorable 

 for the sake of the fibre from which linen is prepared, 

 afforded by its liber-layer. All the cloth of the ancient 

 Egyptians left to us in their tombs is of Flax. At present, 

 besides its cultivation to a considerable extent in Great 

 Britain, especially in Ireland, it is largely grown in 

 Russia, Prussia, Belgium, and the north of France. In 

 1886 upwards of 1,287,000 cwts. of Flax and Tow, or 

 Codilla of Flax, were imported into the United Kingdom. 



Compare, under the microscope, the Fibres of Flax 

 with Cotton. Flax consist of long, thick-walled liber- 

 cells, resembling jointed cylindrical rods. Fibres of 

 linen from Egyptian mummies may also be compared 

 with fibres of cotton cloth from the Peruvian tombs. 

 (Seepage 135). 



The seeds of the Flax plant, called Linseed, are very 

 largely imported for the expression of the valuable " Lin- 

 seed oil " which they contain. The refuse of the seeds, after 

 the oil is expressed, is made into Linseed-cake or " Oil- 

 cake," used to feed cattle. More than 1,700,000 quarters of 

 Linseed were imported in 1877. 



13. Natural Order Malvaceae. The Mallow Family. 



DISTRIBUTION. A widely diffused Natural Order; 

 most abundant in tropical and sub-tropical regions. 

 British genera 3, species 6. 



Herbs. Flowers regular. Sepals valvate. Stamens indefinite, 

 monadelphous. 



Type Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris). 



A biennial herb, with simple alternate stipulate rotun- 

 date leaves, and axillary fascicles of regular purplish 

 flowers. 



