58o 



A TEXT-BOOK^ OF BOTANY. 



Europe. The bast fibers of Linum usitatissiiuum are used in the 

 manufacture of hnen. These fibers are distinguished from many 

 other vegetable fibers in not containing lignin. 



e. ERYTHROXYLACE^ OR COCA FAMILY.— This 

 family contains but two genera, one of which is Erythroxylon. 



Fig. 323. Flowenng branch of Erythroxylon Coca showing the parallel lines on either 

 side of the midrib, which are not true veins, but due to an extra development of hypodernial 

 cells in this region. — After Reiche. 



The official coca leaves (Fig. 323) are obtained from Erythroxy- 

 lon Coca. The plant is a shrub and requires a very humid atmos- 

 phere and a comparatively high elevation. The leaves are 

 alternate, petiolate and entire; the flowers are white and very 

 small ; the fruit is a reddish drupe resembling that of dogwood. 

 Coca leaves contain several alkaloids, including cocaine, cinna- 



