464 BALSAMINACE^ — OXALIDACEjE. 



as a demulcent and diuretic. The cotyledons of the seeds are olea- 

 ginous, and by expression yield Linseed oU, which has the property 

 of drying and hardening into an elastic varnish on exposure to the 

 air. It is used medicinally for burns, mixed with lime water. After 

 expressing the oil a cake remains, called oil-cake, which is used for 

 fattening cattle. The powdered cake receives the name of linseed 

 meal, and is commonly used for poultices. Another species of Lmwm, 

 called L. catharticum, has purgative properties, which seem to depend 

 on the presence of an acrid bitter matter, called Linin. Linwm sela- 

 ginoides is considered in Peru bitter and aperient. 



Order 47. — Balsaminace^, the Balsam Family. (Folypet. Hypog. ) 

 Sepals 5, irregular, deciduous, the two inner and upper connate, 

 coloured, the lower (odd) sepal spurred (fig. 640, p. 366) ; aestivation 

 imbricated. Petals alternate with the sepals, usually 4, in conse- 

 quence of 1 being abortive, often more or less irregiilarly imited ; 

 aestivation convolute. Stamens 5. Ovary 5-ceIled; ovules usually 

 numerous, stigma sessQe, more or less 5-lobed. Fruit a 5-ceUed 

 capsule, opening septifragally, by 5 elastic valves. Seeds usually 

 numerous, suspended, exalbuminous, with a straight embryo, and 

 radicle next the hilum. — Succulent herbaceous plants with watery 

 juice, having simple, opposite, or alternate, exstipulate leaves, and 

 axillary irregular flowers. They inhabit chiefly the East Indies, and 

 are remarkable for the force with which the seed-vessels open when 

 ripe. The valves give way on account of the osmose which goes on 

 in the cells, and they then curl up in a peculiar manner (pp. 15, 344). 

 They have usually showy flowers, but their properties are unimportant. 

 Lindley mentions 2 genera, including 136 species. Examples — Im- 

 patiens, Hydrocera. 



Order 48. — Oxalidaob^, the Wood-sorrel Family. (Polypet. 

 Hypog.) Sepals 5, equal, sometimes cohering slightly at the base, 

 persistent, imbricate in aestivation. Petals 5, equal, unguiculate, 

 hypogynous, with a twisted aestivation. Stamens 10, more or less 

 monadelphous, in 2 rows ; those opposite the petals being longer than 

 those in the outer row ; anthers erect, bUocular. Ovary usually quin- 

 quelocular ; styles filiform, distinct ; stigmas capitate or slightly bifid. 

 Fruit capsular, membranous or fleshy, usually 5-celled, and when 

 dehiscent 5-10 valved. Seeds few, anatropal, albuminous, attached 

 to a central placenta, sometimes with a peculiar elastic integument ; 

 embryo straight, as long as the fleshy albumen, with a long radicle and 

 leafy cotyledons. — Herbs, undershrubs, or trees, with alternate, rarely 

 opposite compound (occasionally simple) leaves, which are generally 

 without stipules. They are found in the hot as well as the temperate 

 parts of the world, and are abundant in North America and at the 

 Cape of Good Hope. The shrubby species are confined to the hotter 

 parts of the world. In some cases phyllodia, or winged petioles, occupy 



