TiLiA. TILIACEiE. 117 



the petals, hairy below. Fruit the size of a large pea, nearly globose or slightly oval, covered 

 with a dense short gray pubescence. Seed usually solitary, obovoid, brownish. 



Woods, usually in fertile soil. Fl. Early in June. Fr. September. 



A beautiful and useful tree. The wood is easily wrought. It is sometimes formed into 

 wooden bowls ; and in places where the Tulip-tree does not grow, it is used for chair seats 

 and the pannels of coach bodies. The bark, as in all the species, is tough, and may be 

 manufactured into an inferior cordage. As a shade tree in cities, it is objectionable, being 

 very generally attacked by caterpillars ; and the bark readily separating in long strips, is 

 peeled off by vicious boys. 



Group 7. Ovary compound, or of several carpels adJiering to a central axis, free 

 from the cahjx, which is mostly imhricated in tzstivation. Stamens as many or 

 twice as many as the petals, inserted on tlie receptacle, commonly monadelphous 

 at the hose. Flowers perfect. 



Order XXIV. LINACEiE. DC. ■ The Flax Tribe. 



Sepals 5 (sometimes 4), distinct or united at the base, persistent : aestivation 

 imbricated: Petals as many as the sepals and alternate with them, hypogynous, 

 with short claws, fugacious : estivation twisted. Stamens as many as the 

 petals (often with intermediate teeth or abortive stamens), united at the base 

 in a hypogynous ring. Ovary of 5 (rarely 3 — 4) united carpels : styles filiform, 

 distinct. Capsule globose, 5- (or sometimes 3 - 4-) celled ; each cell com- 

 pletely or partially divided by a spurious longitudinal dissepiment, proceeding 

 from the back (or dorsal suture) ; each spurious cell one-seeded : dehiscence 

 septicidal. Seeds suspended from near the summit of the cell : testa smooth 

 and usually shining, mucilaginous when moistened. Embryo straight, flat, 

 fleshy and oily, without albumen. Endopleura tumid, and resembling a thin 

 albumen. — Herbaceous or suflfrutescent plants. Leaves entire and sessile, 

 without stipules, alternate or opposite. Flowers terminal, often corymbose or 

 panicled. 



