CL. T.] PENTANDRIA PENTAGYJiTIA. 161 



in August : grows on the sea-shore in Kent, near Whitehaven, on 

 the Mull of Galloway, and in the north of Ireland. Eng. Bot. S^/ppL 

 pi. 2663. Brit. FL 4th ed. p. 130. 



5. S. reticuldta. 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. 



Perennial: 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. LI'NUM. 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 lin, 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.Fl. vol. ii. p. 118. 486. 



2. L. perenne. Perennial Flax. Calyx-leaves inversely egg- 

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



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. Fl. vol. ii. p. 118. 487. 



3. L. angustiftliiim. Narroio -leaved Flax. Calyx-leaves ellip- 

 tical, three-ribbed ; leaves narrow, lance-shaped, three-ribbed ; 



stems numerous, nearly erect. Petals pale-purple. Perennial : 



flowers in July : grows in sandy pastures, in England : not com- 

 mon. 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. 

 Annual : 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, per- 

 manent, marginal segments. Petals five, inversely egg-shaped, 

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

 the petals; anthers roundish. Germens five, sometimes ten, 



