84 THE FLAX FAMILY. [Linum. 



percnne, but with the pointed sepals of L. usitatissimum. It is occasionally 

 annual, but always differs from both the preceding species in its much 

 smaller pale blue flowers, the petals seldom exceeding 5 lines in length. 



In waste places, chiefly in limestone districts, very common in southern 

 Europe and western Asia, and extending up western France to southern 

 and western England, as far as Lancashire ; rare in Ireland. Fl. summer 



4. L. catharticum, Linn. (fig. 193). Cathartic F. A very slender, 

 erect, or slightly decumbent glabrous annual, from 3 or 4 to 6 or 8 inches 

 high, with small, opposite, obovate or oblong leaves, and very small 

 flowers, of a pure white, on long, slender pedicels. Sepals all pointed. 

 Petals obovate, scarcely 2 lines long. 



In meadows and pastures, common throughout Europe, except the 

 extreme north, and in West Asia. Abundant in Britain. Fl. all summer. 



II. RADIOLA. ALLSEED. 



A single species, separated from Flax on account of the parts of the 

 flower and fruit being in fours instead of in fives, and the sepals united 

 to near the middle in a several-toothed calyx. 



1. R. Millegrana, Sm. (fig. 194). Allseed. A minute, erect annual, 

 with very numerous, repeatedly forked branches, forming dense corym- 

 bose tufts, 1 to 2 inches high, with minute globular flowers, on short 

 pedicels. Leaves small, opposite. Calyx-teeth 8 or 12. Petals 4, about 

 the length of the calyx. [R. linoidcs, Eoth., is an earlier name, but quite 

 inapplicable.] 



On sandy heaths and waste places, in central and southern Europe to 

 the Caucasus, extending northward into southern Scandinavia. Generally 

 spread over Britain, and very abundant in some localities, though scarce 

 in other districts. Fl. summer. 



XVIII. MALVACE.E. THE MALLOW FAMILY. 



Herbs or soft-wooded shrubs, with alternate, stipulate, pal- 

 mately- veined leaves, and regular flowers. Calyx of 5 divisions, 

 valvate in the bud, and (in the British genera) 3 or more bracts 

 at the base, forming an involucre or so-called outer calyx. Petals 

 5, twisted in the bud, and adhering by their short claws to the 

 staminal tube. Stamens numerous, their filaments united in 

 a tube round the pistil, the anthers 1-celled. Ovaries (in the 

 British genera) several, arranged in a ring round a common 

 axis. Styles or style-branches as many as ovaries. Fruit (in 

 the British genera) separating into as many carpels as ovaries. 

 Seeds 1 or several in each carpel, attached to the inner angle, 

 kidney-shaped, with a curved embryo and little albumen. 



A very extensive and generally natural family, widely distributed, 

 chiefly over the warmer climates of the globe. The three British genera, 

 all closely allied to each other, only represent one of the two forms of 

 ovary and fruit prevailing in the Order. In Hibiscus, AbutUon, and 

 several other exotic genera, the carpels are all united into a single several- 



