294 XL. ERYTHKOXYLE.E. 



side with 5 little glands, sometimes (Radiola) ; anthers introrse, 2-celled, linear or 

 oblong, basi- or dorsi-fixed, dehiscence longitudinal. OVAEY usually 5-celled, rarely 

 4-celled (Radiola) or 3-celled (Anisadenia, Reinwardtia) , cells subdivided by a more, 

 or less perfect dorsal septum ; styles 5, rarely 4-3, filiform, free ; stigmas simple, 

 linear or sub-capitate ; ovules 2-*4 ?, pendulous, anatropous. CAPSULE globose, 

 enveloped by the persistent calyx and androecium, tipped by the style-base, septici- 

 dally dehiscing into as many cocci as cells, or into twice as many by the splitting of 

 each through the dorsal septum. SEEDS pendulous, compressed ; testa coriaceous, 

 shining when dry, and developing in water an abundant mucilage ; albumen copious, 

 scanty, or 0. EMBRYO straight ; cotyledons flat ; radicle contiguous and parallel to 

 the hilum, superior. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 *Linum. Radiola. 



[Lineai, including Erythroxylew, are thus divided in the 'Genera Plantarum ' : 



TRIBE I. EULINE.E. Petals contorted, fugacious. Perfect stamens as many as petals. 

 Capsule septicidal, rarely indehiscent and 1-seeded. Radiola, Linum, Reinwardtia, Anisadenia. 



TRIBE II. HUGONIEJ;. Petals contorted, fugacious. Stamens all antheriferous, twice or 

 thrice the number of petals. Drape indehiscent. Hugonia, Roucheria. 



TRIBE III. ERYTHROXYLE^:. Petals at length deciduous, imbricate, rarely contorted, with 

 a villous line or ridge on the inner face. Stamens all antheriferous, twice as many as petals. 

 Drupe mdehiseent. Erytltroxijlon, &c. 



TRIBE IV. TRIONANTHE.E. Petals persistent, contorted. Stamens twice or more than 

 twice as many as the petals. Capsule septicidal. Durandea, Sarcotheca, Phyllocosmus, Xoran- 

 thus, &c. ED.] 



Linea are closely related to JZrythro.vyfas, and more or less to Cfcraniacets and O.mlidea (see those 

 families). They approach the latter in polypetalism, hypogynism, contorted corolla, clawed caducous 

 petals, false diplostemony (Arerrhoa), filaments connate at the base, 6-celled ovary with pendulous 

 anatropous ovules, free styles, capitate stigmas, and capsular fruit; hut O.ialide<c are separated by their 

 compound leaves, copious albumen, and usually arillate seed. 



The species of Linum are found in all temperate regions ; Radiola is European and Asiatic ; Jlein- 

 wardtia, tropical Asiatic ; Anisadenia, temperate Himalayan. The common Flax (Linum usitatissimum) 

 is one of the most useful of vegetables ; the tenacity of its cortical fibres places it at the head of textile 

 plants. It is indigenous in the South of Europe and in the East, and its cultivation, which has been 

 carried on from the oldest times, extends to 54 N. lat. The testa contains an abundant mucilage, and 

 the embryo a fixed emollient oil, which is very drying (and hence extensively used by painters). Linum 

 catharticum, an abundant indigenous species, of a slightly bitter and salt taste, was formerly used as a 

 purgative. L. selaginoides is considered by the Peruvians as a bitter aperient. L. aquilinum, a herb of 

 Chili, is there looked upon as refreshing and antifebrile. Many species with red, yellow, blue, and 

 white flowers are ornamental garden plants. 



XL. ERYTHROXYLEsE, Kunth. 



UNDERSHRUBS, SHRUBS or TREES ; branches usually flattened or compressed at 

 the tip when young. LEAVES alternate or rarely opposite, simple, entire, generally 

 glabrous, penninerved, folded lengthwise in bud, and preserving two impressions 

 parallel to the midrib ; stipules intra-axillary, concave, scarious, scaly, bracteiform 



