SPECIES CULTIVATED. 



263 



already alluded to, is one of the characteristic weeds of 

 poor soils. The L. perenne, or Siberian flax, is usually 

 met with on soils of the chalk formations. The L. usita- 

 tissimum is less commonly met with, and then generally 

 on cultivated soils; and more rarely still the L. angustifo- 

 lium, which is found growing on sandy and poor pastures, 

 principally on the sea-coasts. 



Although there are many species belonging to this 

 order known to botanists as possessing fibres suitable for 



COMMON FLAX Linum usitatissimum. 



textile purposes, the only species cultivated is the Linum 

 usitatissimum, or Common Flax, which is an annual plant, 



