266 BRECK’S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 
LINUM.—Frax. 
(Linum, in Celtic, signifies thread.] 
Linum perénne.—Perennial Flax.—A native of the far 
West with bright blue flowers, which, though they fade 
soon, are produced so abundantly that the plant is for a 
long time in flower. 
L. grandiflérum,—Large-flowered Flax.—A handsome 
annual from Algiers. It has large, brilliant, crimson 
flowers, and but seldom produces seed. _Z. dutewm is sim- 
ilar, with yellow flowers. JL. usitatissimum, is the culti- 
vated Flax; it is an annual species with handsome blue 
flowers, the proper place of which is the field rather than 
the garden. 
LOASA., 
[A name of unknown meaning.] 
A curious genus, mostly annuals, remarkable for the 
beauty of their singular flowers, but the plants possess one 
quality which must forever banish them from the pleasure 
garden; the whole plant is covered with hairs, which, on 
being even slightly touched, eject a poison into the flesh, 
causing a painful blister, the effect of which does not pass 
off for several days. 
Loasa lateritia.—Brick-red Loasa.—It is a native of 
South America; a climber, growing twelve to twenty feet 
in aseason. The seed should be sown in a warm border, 
early in May. The flowers are prettily colored, between a 
brick-red and orange shade, and produced in profusion 
through the summer and autumn. It is very ornamental, 
when properly trained upon a trellis; but it will be best 
not to come within touching distance of the plant without 
a good pair of gloves. ZL. Pentlandit is another beauti- 
ful species, of later introduction than the last, and said to 
be more tender ; this is also a climbing plant. 
