Linum.] Xll. LINEAE. 77 



lobed, sometimes shortly obovate or almost orbicular ; in mature state linear- 

 oblong, narrowed at both ends or almost lanceolate, very coriaceous, flat, 

 obtuse, Hin.— 2ain. long, sinuate or serrate. Racemes very slender, shorter 

 than the leaves, 10— 14-flowered. Flowers drooping, small. Petals 4-5-lobed at 

 the tip ; lobes obtuse, unequal. Drupe smaller, rugose. — Hook, f., PI. N.Z. i. 

 32, Handbk. 34; T. Kirk, Porest PI. N.Z. t. 13, 13. E. serratus, Banks and 

 Sol. MSS. 



NORTH and SOUTH Islands; STEWART Island: rare and local north of the Auckland 

 Isthmus ; more plentiful in tlie South. Ascends to 3,000ft. Pokaka. Mahimahi. Nov. to -Jan. 



OsDEB XII.— LINEAE. 



Sepals 5, rarely 4, free or coherent at the base, imbricate or rarely 

 valvate. Petals 5, rarely 4, hypogynous or perigynous, contorted. Stamens 

 as many as the petals or twice or thrice as many, monadelphous below, with 5 

 minute glands at the base of the tube. Ovary 3— 5-celled, free ; styles 3—5, 

 free or coherent below ; stigmas terminal ; cells 1— 2-ovuled. Pruit a capsule 

 splitting septicidally into 1— .2-seeded cocci, or a drupe with 1 or more pyrenes. 

 Seeds with scanty endosperm. Embryo usually straight. Radicle superior. 

 Herbs, shrubs, rarely trees, with simple leaves and hermaphrodite flowers. 



Genera, 14. Species, 140. Most of the genera are restricted to tropical countries, but 

 Linum, the largest genus, is chiefly found in temperate and extra-tropical regions. 



1. LINUM, Linn. 



Sepals 5, entire, persistent. Petals 5, contracted. Stamens 5, alternating 

 with staminodia. Ovary 5-celled ; cells 2-ovuled, imperfectly divided by a 

 longitudinal septum. Cocci 5, 2-seeded ; or 10, 1-seeded, by each coccus split- 

 ting along the septum. Glabrous herbs, with narrow entire simple leaves, 

 fibrous cortex, and terminal flowers. 



Species, 85. Generally distributed through the temperate and extra-tropical regions. 



Btym. The Latin word for flax. 



The flax of ooramou use is afforded by L. usilatissimuTn. The New Zealand species is 

 endemic, but several exotic species are naturalised in the colony. 



Leaves alternate, linear. 



Perennial, erect. Flowers large, white. Sepals ovate-lanceolate . . . . 1. L. monogynum. 



Perennial. Stems spreading. Flowers blue. Sepals ovate, acute, with 



scarious margins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * L. marginale. 



Annual, erect. Flowers blue. Sepals ovate, acute . . . . * L. usitatissimum. 



Annual, erect. Sepals lanceolate- acuminate .. .. ,. .. * L. gallicum. 



Leaves opposite. 

 Annual- Leaves obovate. Flowers nodding in bud, white . . .- * L. catharticum. 



1. L. monogynum, Forst., Prod. n. 145. A perennial herb, woody at 

 the base, simple or branched, 6in.-24in. high, usually erect. Leaves numerous, 

 scattered, ascending, narrow-linear-oblong or lanceolate or linear-subulate, iin.— 

 lin. long, 1-3-nerved. Plowers in terminal corymbs, usually white, rarely 

 pale-blue. Sepals ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute. Styles united at the base, 

 recurved above, Capsule large, rounded-ovate, divided into 10 1-seeded cocci. 



