TiLiA. TILIACEJE. 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 adhering to a central axis, free 

 from the calyx, ivhich is 7nostly imbricated in cestivation. Stamens as many or 

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

 at the base. Flowers perfect. 



Okder XXIV. LINAGES. DC. The Flax Tribe. 



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

 imbricated. Petals as many a^ the sepals and alternate with them, hypogynous, 

 with short claws, fugacious : aestivation 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. Gapsule 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 

 Bepticidal. Seeds suspended from near the sunmiit of the cell : testa smooth 

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

 fleshy and oily, without albumen. Endoplcura tumid, and resemblii^g 1 thin 

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

 without sti2)ules, alternate or ojjposite. Flowers terminal, often corymbose or 

 panicled. 



