928 



LINN^A 



LINUM 



cles ; corolla rose-colored or white, about K in. loiio 

 fragrant. June-Aug. In N. Aiiier. south to Md., am 

 Calif, iu the Mts. B.B. 3:235. Gn. 24, p. 177. 



Alfred Rehder. 



1298. Lin: 



LINOSPADIX (Greek, 7j«c«rs/>«rfix). PalmdcecF. L. 

 Ptti-irlii<inii is a pinnate-leaved palm from New Guinea, 

 int. 18t»9 by Sander & Co., who say: "The slender, 

 alternate pinnie are slightly arched. The base is netted 

 with brown fiber, small, hair-like glumes of the same 

 color being apparent on the younger fronds and leaf- 

 stalks. The young fronds are colored similarly to those 

 of Areca IJsemanni, and when developing have the 

 luster and brilliancy of new copper." 



Linnspadix contains about 4 species of dwarf, un- 

 armed palms, all from New Guinea, varying consider- 

 ably in foliage. The genus is allied to Bacularia, but 

 Bacularia has preraorse leaf segments and erect anthers 

 fastened at the base, while Linospadix has acuminate 

 leaf segments and versatile anthers fastened on the 

 back. Linospadix is distinguished from Howea (which 

 see) by the stamens (>-9: pistillate fls. with 6-9 stami- 

 nodes: ovule parietal. 



Petrickiana, Sander. Pinna? once cut from the apex 

 to a third or fourth the lentfth of the pinna; laterally cut 

 about six-seveuths of the way from the tips of the seg- 

 ments to the rachis: jiremature basal Ivs. cut once from 

 the apex to half their length, the 2 lobes uncut. G.C. 

 III. 24:299. — This is a handsome pinnate-leaved palm 

 of compact growth and well furnished with foliage, at 

 least while in a young state. In its juvenile condition, 

 the leaves of L. Petrickiana are simply bifid, the 

 pinnate form gradually appearing as the plant attains 

 age. Cultural conditions siiited to the needs of Calamus 

 and Djemonorops will be most likely to succeed with 

 Linospadix, and include a temperature of 70°, plenty of 

 water, and some shade throughout the year. 



W. H. Taplin and W. M. 



LINOStRIS {Linum and O^j/Ws, which genera it re- 

 sembles), Compdsitip. One species. L. vulgaris, Cslss., 

 of Europe, is a good hardy perennial, growing 1^-2 ft. 

 high, and bearing uumeroiis small pale yellow heads: 

 stems strict (from ahardroot). striate, finely pubescent, 

 bearing many alternate, small, linear, entire Ivs. It is 

 an excellent late summer and fall bloomer, thriving well 

 in any good garden or border. Prop, by division. 



The genus Lynosyris is now referred to Aster by many 

 botanists, the above species then becoming Asfer Litio- 

 syris, Bernh. It is also known as Chrijsocoma rnhiaris, 

 Gueld. Horticulturally. it is distinct, witli its yellow 

 heads and peculiar habit. From Aster it di+lers techni- 

 cally in the absence of rays and in yellow fis. l H. B. 



LINTTM (classical name). Lindcece. Flax. Temper- 

 ate-region plants of both hemispheres, of 80 or 90 spe- 

 cies, herbs or sometimes subshrubs. They are erect- 

 growing plants, with narrow alternate (rarely opposite) 



and mostly entire Ivs., and showy 5-petaled fls. which 

 open in the sunshine. Stamens 5 and alternate with the 

 petals, usually united at the base: ovary 1, 3-5-loculed, 

 bearing as many styles as locules, and ripening into a 

 dry capsule which may or may not be dehiscent. The 

 fls. are borne in terminal racemes or cymes, and, although 

 each flower may be short-lived, the continuity of bloom 

 makes the plant showy. There are two horticultural 

 sections,— the annuals and perennials. All are of easy 

 culture in an open and warm place, fully exposed to the 

 sun. Seeds of the annuals may be sown where the 

 plants are to bloom or they may be started under glass. 

 The perennials often bloom the first year from seed, and 

 seeds are often used to propagate them ; but the plants 

 may be divided. There are several native Linums, some 

 of which are small-fid., weedy plants. 



A. Plant annual : fls. red or blue. 

 B. Bloom red, 

 grandifldrum, Desf. Flowering Flax. Figs. 1299, 

 130U. Erect, branchy, 1-2 ft., glabrous: Ivs. many, alter- 

 nate, broadly lanceolate to oblong, sessile or nearly so: 

 fis. terminating very slender pedicels which are 1-3 in. 

 long, the obovate petals wide-spreading (fi. 1-lM in. 

 across, and something like a single-fld. pink) and much 

 exceeding the pointed scarious-edged sepals. N. Afr. 

 B.M. 4956. R.H. 1848:401. -Very serviceable garden an- 

 nual, and popular for its glossy bright fls. The color 

 varies in the shades of red. Var. rilbruin has bright 

 red fls. Var. kermesiniun is crimson. L. cocciiienm., 

 Hort., is a scarlet-fld. form. In a warm, sunny place, the 

 Flowering Flax makes a very satisfactory plant. It is 

 not adapted to cutting, since the fis. are not durable. 

 Will not stand frost. 



BB. Bloom blue. 

 usitatissimum, Linn. Flax. Much cult, for linseed 

 aii'l fur tiber. and running wild along railroads and in 

 fields : 2-:> ft. high, very slender-branched, glabrous: 

 Ivs. small, linear or lanceolate, acute, alternate : fls. 

 about J^in. across, light blue, soon withering: pod large, 

 mostly exceeding the scarious-edged sepals, nearly or 

 quite indehiscent. L. hiluiiUe, Mill., also cult, and some- 



1^99. Linum erandiflorum. Natural size. 



times run wild, is lower and has a dehiscent capsule; 

 it is probably only a form of the above. — Flax has been 

 ?ult. from time immemorial, and it is unknown in an 

 originally wild state. Some authorities consider it to be 

 ft modified form of £/. perenne. 



