250 OEDER XXIV. GERANIACE^. 



1. C. Carolixia'na, (Mich.) Root tuberous. Radical leaves long 

 petioled, spatulate ; cauline leaves ovate-lauceolate or oval, one or two 

 pair on a stem. Flowers in racemes, on a nodding ]>edicel. Sepnh 

 obtuse. Petals nearly round, with purple veins. — Rose-color^-d. If. 

 March. Mountains. 



2. C. Yirgin'ica, (L.) Radical leaves few, linear-lanceolate ; cauline 

 snes a single pair, linear-attenuate at the base, glabrous. Flouvrs in 

 a simple raceme. Peduncles 1 — 2 inches long, nodding. Sepals hmce- 

 Dlate-acute, persistent. Petals oval, obtuse, striate, much long-r than 

 the sepals. Anthers erect, oblong, rose-colored. — Rose colored, li. 

 March — April. Near Columbia and Macon. Spring-beauty. 



Order XXIII.— LINA'CE^. D. C. 



Sepals 5, persistent, with an imbricated aestivation. Petah 

 5, alternate with the sepals, with a twisted aestivation, hypogy- 

 nous, unguiculate. Stamens 5. Anthers attached by the mid- 

 dle. Pistils 5. Styles few, spreading. Stigmas capitate. 

 Capsule globose, or by false dissepiments, 10-celIed; dehiscence 

 septicidal. Seeds suspended, anatropous, ovate, compressed, 

 mucilaginous when moistened. Herbaceous plants, annuals. 



Genus L— LI'NUM. L. 5—5. 



(Latin luium, a thread.) 



There is but this genus belonging to this order, and the descriotion 

 of the order will suffice for the geuus. 



1. L. Virginia'num, (L.) Stem erect, smooth, branching above, gla- 

 brous. Radical leaves ovate, spatulate ; cauline ones alternatf, linejir 

 lanceolate. Flowers in corymbose panicles, l-x. S'pals acute, ovate. 

 Petals small. Capsule neaily globose.— Yellow. 0. May— June. 

 Common in Middle Car. and Geo. 18— 3G inches. Wild Flax. 



2. L. rig'idum, (Pursh.) Stem angled, branched above. Leaves lin- 

 ear, acute, rigid, with scabrous margins. Sepals bruad lanceolate, cus- 

 pidate, with scabrous margins, with 3 strong nerves. Yellow. ©. 



The Linum usitatissarmim, the common FJax, has become almost naturalized in 

 some parts of the United States, and is the only species wliicli is appropriat.-d to any 

 nse; but the others possess similar useful properties. Tlie woody fibre of tlfe bark is 

 the material from which all linen fabrics are manufactured, and a mucilnre <-om- 

 posina a part of the testa of the seed is used in medicine, and a fixed oil, CDntainei in 

 the kernel of the seed, is the common painters" oil, known under the name oi Lin- 

 seed Oil. 



Order XXIV.— GERANIA^CE^. D. C. 



Sepals 5, persistent, with an imbricated testivation, ribbed, 

 one sometimes spurred or saccate. Petals 5, hypogynous, un- 

 guiculate, distinct. Stamens hypogynous, monadelphous, 10. 

 Ovary composed of 5 carpels, arranged around the extended 

 axis. Stijles 5, cohering round the axis, the stigmatic surface 

 within the summit. Carjyels distinct in fruit, each 1 or 2 seed- 

 ed, dehiscing by the inner suture. Seeds pendulous, anatro- 



