2lO PENTANDBIA PKNTAGYNIA 



composed of numerous small umbels ; peduncles pubescent, bracteato at base. f u 



volucree of soveral short subulate leaves. Calyx with 6 small acute tooth. Petals 



greenish white, lance-ovate, rather acute. Styles united; stigmas diverging, or 



recurved. Berries smaller than in the preceding species, dark purpU when 



mature. 



Hub. Rich woodlands; Brandy wine hills : not common. Fl. July. F r . Sept. 



Obs. This species is not very common ; but is occasionally to bo met with in 

 Our richest woodlands, It has long been introduced into our gardens, as a medi- 

 cinal plant,— the root and berries being considered stomachic, when used in alco^ 

 holic tincture. The habit of taking such medicines, however, is very perilous u 

 the patient, and much ''more honored in the breach, than in tho observance.'* 

 There are two other species in the U. States ;— of which A. spinosa (a stout prick- 

 ty shrub) has been introduced into this County, and is almost naturalized about 

 some farm-bouses,— particularly near Marshallton. 



162. LINUM. /,. JVYill. Gen. 299. 

 PGreek, Unan, or Celtic, Llin ; the name for flax, or thread, in those languages 



Calyx mostly of 5 sepals, slightly united at base, persistent. Petal* 

 5, unguiculato. Stamen* alternate with the petals, united at base in 

 ahypogynous ring, with intermediate teeth. Styles mostly 5 (rarely 

 3). Ovar y superior. Capsule subglobose, 10-valved, 10-celled. Seeds 

 solitary, compressed, ovate. 



Herbaceous, or suffruticose : leaves entire, without 6tlpules; flowers pedunculate^ 

 solitary, somewhat paniculate, or corymbosely racemose ; petals fugacious. Nat. 

 Ord. 109. Lindl. Linejs. 



1, L. TiKGisriANCM, L. Radical leaves opposite, spatulate; stem 

 leaves alternate, oblong-lanceolate ; panicle corymbose, racemose, leafy ; 

 flowers yellow, on short pedicels ; capsules depressed-globose. JBech, 

 Hot. p. 56. 



L. virginicum. Pursh, Am. I. p. 210. JYuM. Gev* 1. p. 206, Bart. 

 Phil. 1. p. 157. 

 Viroikiak LiNrM. Yulgo — Wild Flax. 



Boot perennial ? Stem 1 to 2 feet high (often 3 or 4 stems frem the same root), 

 slender, slightly angular by the dccurrcnce of the leaves and midribs, smooth, ce 

 rymbosely branched towards the summit, and often with short stolones, or sucker- 

 like branches at the root. Radical leaves about 1 third of an inch long, opposite, 

 spatulate-obovatc, pellucid-punctate ; stem-leaves 3 fourths of an inch to an inch 

 long, and 1 fourth to 1 third of an inch wide, alternate, sessile, lanse-oblong, or ob- 

 lanceolate, acute, smooth, slightly scabrous on the margin. Flowers small, on pe- 

 dicels 1 or 2 lines long, racemose on the branches, somewhat sccund, being often 

 alternately axillary and opposite the leaves. Sepals lance-ovate, acuminate, keel- 

 ed. Petals pale yellow, obovate. Capsule depressed-globeae, with 6 principal 

 valves, and each valve again splitting in two. 



J fab. Old fields, and open woodlands : frequent* Fl. July. Fr. August. 



Obs. Authors generally describe the root as annual ; but I believe Muhlenberg 

 and Bigelow are more correct, in calling it perennial. 



2. L. usitatissimum, L. Leaves lanteAinear, very acute ; panicte 

 loose, corymbose ; flowers blue, on long pedicels ; capsvhs globose, 

 mucronate. Beck, Bok p. 66. 



* 



