294 XL. EEYTHEOXYLE^. 



side with. 5 little glands, sometimes {Radiola) ; anthers introrse, 2-celled, linear or 

 oblong, basi- or dorsi-fixed, dehiscence longitudinal. Ovakt usually 6-celled, rarely 

 4-ceUed {Badiola) or 3-celled [Anisadenia, Eeinwardtia), cells subdivided by a more 

 or less perfect dorsal septum ; styles 5, rarely 4-3, filiform, free ; stigmas simple, 

 linear or sub-capitate ; ovules 2-4 ?, pendulous, anatropous. Capsule globose, 

 enveloped by the persistent calyx and androecium, tipped by the style-base, septici- 

 dally dehiscing into as many cocci as cells, or into twice as many by the splitting of 

 each through the dorsal septum. Seeds pendulous, compressed ; testa coriaceous, 

 shining when dry, and developing in water an abundant mucilage ; albumen copious, 

 scanty, or 0. Embeto straight ; cotyledons flat ; radicle contiguous and parallel to 

 the hilum, superior. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



*Linum. Eadiola. 



[LinecB, including Erythroxylew, are thus divided in the 'Genera Plantarum' : — 



Teibe I. EuLiNE^. — ^Petals contorted, fugacious. Perfect stamens as many as petals. 

 Capsule septicidal, rarely indehiscent and 1-seeded. Badiola, Linuin, Beinwardtia, Anisadenia. 



Teibe II. HuGONiEiE. — Petals contorted, fugacious. Stamens all antheriferous, twice or 

 thrice the number of petals. Drupe indehiscent. Hugonia, Boucheria. 



TsiBE III. EETTHEOXTLEa;. — Petals at length deciduous, imbricate, rarely contorted, with 

 a villous line or ridge on the inner face. Stamens all antheriferous, twice as many as petals. 

 Drupe indehiscent. Eri/throxylon, &o. 



Teibe IV. Teignanthej;. — Petals persistent, contorted. Stamens twice or more than 

 twice as many as the petals. Capsule septicidal. Durandea, Sarcotheca, Phyllocosmus, Xoran- 

 thus, &c. — Ed.] 



lAnece are closely related to Erythroxylem, and more or less to Geraniacea and Oxalideee (see those 

 families). They approach the latter in polypetaliam, hypogynism, contorted corolla, clawed caducous 

 petals, false diplostemony (Averrhon), filaments connate at the base, 5-celled ovary with pendulous 

 anatropous ovules, free styles, capitate stigmas, aud capsular fruit; but Oxalidea are separated by their 

 compound leaves, copious albumen, and usually arillate seed. 



The species of Linmn are found in all temperate regions ; Radiola is European and Asiatic ; Mein- 

 wardtia, tropical Asiatic ; Anisadenia, temperate Himalayan. The common Flax (Linmn usitntisdnmvi) 

 is one of the most useful of vegetables ; the tenacity of its cortical fibres places it at the head of textile 

 plants. It is indigenous in the South of Europe and in the East, and its cultivation, which has been 

 carried on from the oldest times, extends to 54° N. lat. The testa contains an abundant mucilage, and 

 the embryo a fixed emollient oil, which is very drying (and hence extensively used by painters). Linum 

 catharticum, an abundant indigenous species, of a slightly bitter and salt taste, was formerly used as a 

 purgative. L. selaginoides is considered by the Peruvians as a bitter aperient. L. aquilinum, a herb of 

 Chili, is there looked upon as refreshing and antifebrile. Many species with red, yellow, blue, and 

 white flowers are ornamental garden plants. 



XL. ERYTHROXYLE^, Kunth. 



TJndersheubs, sheubs or trees ; branches usually flattened or compressed at 

 the tip when young. Leaves alternate or rarely opposite, simple, entire, generally 

 glabrous, penninerved, folded lengthwise in bud, and preserving two impressions 

 parallel to the midrib ; stipules intra-axillary, concave, scarious, scaly, bracteiform 



