380 ORDER LINAGES, OR FLAX TRIBE. 



stamens are equal in number to the petals, and are united at the 

 base into a downy cup ; the edge of this exhibits, between the 

 stamens, a corresponding number of little teeth, which are the 

 abortive rudiments of another whorl (. 465). Within these is 

 the ovary, which appears to contain ten cells, in each of which 

 is a single pendulous ovule ; but the number of real cells is only 

 five (in some species four), of which each is partly divided into 

 two by an imperfect partition, extending inwards from its outer 

 wall. Such a partition is termed a spurious dissepiment. The 

 ovary bears five (or four) styles and stigmas ; and finally the 

 seed-vessel splits into ten valves. By all these strongly-marked 

 differences, the real affinity of the Linaceae to the Caryophyllese 

 is rendered very small. 



544. There is scarcely any plant which is less affected than 

 the common Flax, by differences of soil and climate ; and accord- 

 ingly one species, with all its characteristics unaltered, flourishes 

 in the cold as well as the temperate regions of Europe, in North 

 and South America, in Africa, and in Asia. There are few 

 plants which are made subservient to so great a variety of uses ; 

 from which circumstance it is, that this species of Linum has 

 received its specific name usitatissimum, which means " in most 

 common use." It is from the woody fibre of its stem, that all 

 the thread is obtained, which has been from very early ages 

 employed in making linen fabrics (the name of which is derived 

 from that of the genus) ; and it is now used for this purpose to 

 a greater extent than ever, in spite of the degree in which it has 

 been superseded by cotton. The seeds contain a large quantity 

 of oil, which is readily obtained from them by pressure, and is 

 known under the name of linseed oil (. 371) ; and the oil-cake 

 which is left is an excellent food for cattle. The seed-coats also 

 contain a large quantity of mucilage ; so that an infusion of the 

 seeds, known as linseed-tea, is frequently of great utility as an 

 external soothing application, and is sometimes a very useful 

 internal remedy. Further, the seeds, when ground into a meal, 

 form the most advantageous material for large poultices ; and 

 an enormous quantity is consumed for this purpose, especially in 

 hospitals. The plant, however, is not much cultivated in Britain, 



