206 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



There are numerous officinal preparations of both the wood and resin. 

 The dose of the latter in powder is from ten to thirty grains ; of the tincture 

 from one to four drachms. 



Another species of this genus has also been used, the G. sanctum, a much 

 smaller tree, growing principally in South America; it is possessed of the 

 same properties as the other, but in a minor degree. The wood is paler, 

 and lighter, and is seldom imported except mixed with the true Lignum vitse 

 and as an adulteration of it. It may always be distinguished by the smaller 

 size of the billets and the less decided green tint of the heart-wood. 



Group XIII. — G-eraniales. 



Order SS.—UNACEJE.—Lindley. 



Sepals generally 5, (3-5) persistent. Petals as many as the sepals, and alternate with 

 them, hypogynous, caducous, twisted in aestivation, unguiculate. Stamens equal in num. 

 ber to the petals, united at base, often with an abortive filament between each ; anthers 

 innate. Ovary with as many cells as there are sepals ; styles equal in number to cells, 

 stamens capitate. Pericarp a globose capsule, with 5 (or 3-4) cells, containing 2 seeds 

 in each. Seeds suspended, compressed, albumen none, or very thin ; testa mucilaginous ; 

 embryo flat, oily. 



The Linaceas are herbaceous or suffruticose, with entire sessile leaves, which 

 are usually alternate, or alternate and opposite on the same stem, and are 

 without stipules. The flowers are terminal, and in corymbs or panicles. 

 Most of the species are distinguished for the tenacity of the fibres of their 

 bark, and the mucilaginous coating of their seeds. 



Linum. — Linn. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5. Stamens 5. Styles 3-5, distinct or connected. Capsule globose. 

 Seeds ovate, compressed. 



This genus is a very extensive one, and the species are widely diffused 

 throughout the world ; the larger proportion of them are peculiar to the 

 warmer parts of Europe, but five or six are found in the United States, in- 

 cluding the cultivated one. 



L. usitatissimum, Linn. — Sepals ovate, acute, 3-nerved at base. Petals crenate. Leaves 

 alternate, lanceolate, acute. Stems glabrous, branched above. 



Linn., Sp. PI. 397 ; Woodville, t. Ill ; Stokes, ii. 186; Stephenson and 

 Churchill, i. 61 ; Torrey and Gray, i. 204. 

 Common Names. — Flax ; Lint. 

 Foreign Names. — Lin, Fr. ; Lino, It. ; Flachs, Ger. 



Description. — The common flax has a small, fibrous root, giving rise to a round, slender* 

 smooth stem, branched above, and about two feet in height. The leaves are small, entire* 

 lanceolate, sessile, alternate, and of a glaucous colour. The flowers are in a corymbose 

 panicle, numerous, large, of a blue colour, and supported on long peduncles. The calyx 

 has five lanceolate, erect sepals, which are three-nerved at base, and imbricated in aestiva- 

 tion. The corolla consists of five crenate, oblong petals, broad above, narrow below, and 

 contorted in aestivation. There are five stamens, which are subulate, erect, as long as 

 the calyx, and supporting two-celled sagittate anthers. The ovary is superior, ovate, and 

 surmounted by five blue, slender styles. The fruit is a globular capsule, with five cells, 

 containing two seeds each, divided from each other by a false dissepiment. Seeds ellipti- 

 cal, smooth, brown, and shining. 



It is by no means certain where Flax is truly indigenous, for although it has 

 become naturalized in most parts of Europe, and partially so in the United 



I 



