222 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



symmetrical, hypogynous flowers. "The most important 

 plant of the order, and one of the most important in the 

 vegetable kingdom, is the Flax {Linum iisitatissimum), culti- 

 vated from time immemorial for its fibres, called linen, 

 (the bast fibres of the cortical part of the stem). The 

 mummy-cloth of ancient Egypt was composed of Flax 

 fibres ; and in the remains of the Lake Dwellers in Switzer- 

 land fragments of linen-cloth have been found. The plant 

 appears to be indigenous in the South of Europe, as well 

 as in the regions eastward in Asia ; it is now cultivated 

 throughout the North and South Temperate Zones. The 

 seeds are rich in oil, which is extracted by pressure, pro- 

 ducing the linseed-oil of commerce ; the compressed refuse 

 is called oil-cake, and is much used as food for cattle. 

 Eryihoxylon Coca, a South American shrub, is cultivated 

 in Bolivia and New Granada for its stimulating leaves, 

 ■which are. chewed like tobacco." 



20. Tiliaceae. The three hundred and thirty species 

 of the Linden family are, in the main, tropical trees 

 and shrubs. They have mucilaginous properties., fibrous 

 bark, valvate sepals, imbricated petals, and usually poly- 

 adelphous stamens. Here belongs the Jute-plant {Cor- 

 chorus capsidaris), whose fibre is extensively used in making 

 gunny-bags, coarse carpets, etc. At present, finer fabrics 

 are being made from it. The wood of the Lime, or 

 Linden-tree (T. Europcea of Europe, and T. Americana of 

 the United States), is light and \Yhite, much used in carv- 

 ing, in the manufacture of musical instruments, etc. Both 

 species are cultivated in parks. 



21. Sterculiaceae. A tropical family of two hundred 

 and fifty species, important as including the Chocolate-tree 

 of Tropical America (Theobroma Cacao). This small tree 



