CL. V.] PENTANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 161 



on the sea-shore in Kent, near Whitehaven, on the Mull of Galloway, 



and in the north of Ireland. Eng. But. Suppl. pi. 2663. Brit. Ft. 



4th ed. p. 130. 484. 



5. S. reticnldta. Matted Thrift. Stalks panicled, prostrate, zig-zag, 



the lower branches sterile ; leaves somewhat wedge-shaped, acute. 



Root woody : panicle with several spikes of purplish-blue flowers. Pe- 

 rennial : flowers in July and August: grows on the sea-shore, in Norfolk: 

 rare. Eng. Bot. vol. v. pi. 328. Eng. Fl. vol. ii. p. 117. 485. 



91. Ll'NUAJ. FLAX. 



Calyx inferior, of five lance-shaped, erect, permanent leaves, 

 smaller than the corolla. Petals five, oblong, obtuse, narrow 

 below, moderately spreading. Filaments five, awl-shaped, erect, 

 as long as the calyx, and five shorter intermediate ones; anthers 

 arrow-shaped. Germen egg-shaped. Styles thread-shaped, erect, 

 as long as the stamens; stigmas bluntish, spreading. Capsule 

 nearly globular, obscurely five-sided, ten-celled, ten-valved. Seeds 

 solitary, egg-shaped, acute, compressed, polished. Named from 

 the Celtic tin, a thread. 176. 



* Leaves alternate. 



1. L. usitatissimum. Common Flax. Calyx-leaves egg-shaped, acute, 

 three-ribbed ; petals crenate ; leaves lance-shaped, alternate ; stem 



commonly solitary, erect. Stem nearly two feet high, straight, round, 



corymbose at the top : flowers erect, with blue-veined petals. The uses 

 of the fibres of the stem, and the expressed oil of the seeds, are well 

 known. Annual : flowers in July : grows in cultivated fields, but is not 

 indigenous. Eng. Bot. vol. xix. pi. 1357. Eng. Ft. vol. ii. p. 118. 486. 



2. L. pertnne. Perennial Flax. Calyx-leaves inversely egg-shaped, 

 obtuse, obscurely five-ribbed ; leaves narrow, lance-shaped, alternate ; 



stems numerous, ascending. Root woody : stems about a foot high : 



flowers blue, veined. Perennial : flowers in June and July : grows in 

 dry pastures and meadows in England : not common. Eng. Bot. vol. i. 

 pi. 40. Eng. Ft. vol. ii. p. 118. 487. 



3. L. angustiffilium. Narrow-leaved Flax. Calyx-leaves elliptical, 

 three-ribbed ; leaves narrow, lance-shaped, three-ribbed ; stems nume- 

 rous, nearly erect. Petals pale-purple. Perennial: flowers in July : 



grows in sandy pastures, in England : not common. Eng. Bot. vol. vi. 

 pi. 381. Eng. Fl. vol.ii. p. 119. 488. 



** Leaves opposite. 



4. L. cathdrticum. Purging Flax. Leaves opposite, oblong ; stem 



forked above ; petals acute. Stem thread-like, from six inches to a 



foot high : flowers white, at first pendulous. Bitter and purgative. An- 

 nual : flowers in July and August: grows in dry pastures: common. 

 Eng. Bot. vol. vi. pi. 382. Eng. Fl. vol. ii. p. 120. 489. 



92. SIBBA'LDIA. SIBBALDIA. 



Calyx inferior, of one leaf, with ten elliptical, spreading, perma- 

 nent, marginal segments. Petals five, inversely egg-shaped, taper- 

 ing at the base. Filaments five, awl-shaped, shorter than the 

 petals; anthers roundish. Germens five, sometimes ten, egg- 



