122 LINEM. [LiNUM. 



XXIV.-LINE^. 



Heebs or shrubs. Leaves usually alternate, simple, entire or 

 crenate-serrate ; stipules lateral or intrapetiolar or 0. Inflorescence 

 various. Flowers regular, 2-sexual. Sepals 5, rarely 4, free or 

 connate below, imbricate. Petals as many as tbe sepals, hypo^ynous 

 or slightly perigynous, usually fugacious, often contorted. Stamens 

 4-5, with as many interposed staminodes, or 8-10, rarely more ; ji^^a- 

 9%eM^5 united at the base into a hypogynous or slightly perigynous 

 ring, filiform; anthers versatile. Glands 5, entire or 2.1obed, 

 ■usually adnate to the staminal ring, or obsolete, — This family is 

 represented in most parts of the world. The famous Coca-plant is 

 found in Peru and in other parts of South America. 



Styles 5, capsule 5-celled . . . . 1. Linum. 

 Styles 3-i, capsule 3-4-celled ... 2. Eeinwardtia. 



1. LINUM, Linn.; Fl. Brit. Ind. i, 410. 



Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves narrow, entire ; stipules 0- 

 Sejpals 5, entire. Petals 5, contorted, fugacious. Stamens 5, 

 "Usually alternating with minute staminodes. G-lands opposite the 

 petals, adnate to the staminal ring. Ovary 5-celled ; cells 2-locellate, 

 2-ovuled; styles usually free. Capsule 5-celled, septicidally split- 

 ting into 5 simple 2-seeded or into 10 one-seeded cocci. Seeds com- 

 pressed ; albumen scanty. — Species about 90, abundant in S. Europe. 



Flowers blue, styles free . • . 1. L. usitatissimum. 



Flowers yellow, styles connate below . 2, L. mysorense. 



1. L. usitatissimum. Linn. Sp. PI. 277 ; Boxh. Fl. Ind. ii, 110 ; W. Sr 



A. Frod. 134 ; Boyle III. 82 ; D. ^ G. Bomb. Fl. 8uppl. 16 ; F. B. I. i, 

 410 ; D C. L'Orig, PI. Cult. 95 ; Field 8f Gard. Crops, II, 40, t. xliv ; 

 Watt E.D. Vern. Alsi, tisi, hijri (Bundelkhand)— Flax or Linseed. 



Annual. Stems 2-4 ft., erect, usually corymbosely branched above. 

 Leaves linear or lanceolate, without stipular glands, sub-3-nerved. 

 Flowers in broad cymes, blue or sometimes white, 1 in. across. Sepals 

 ovate, acuminate, 3-nerved, eglandular, margins white, ciliate or not. 

 Stigmas linear-clavate. CapsuJe hardly exceeding the sepals ; edges of 

 valves ciliate. 



Linseed is extensively grown within the area, especially in the Benares 

 Division, in Bundelkhand and in the Suh-Himalayan tract. It is also 

 found frequently as an escape in cultivated ground. It prefers a 

 heavy soil, and is often sown in fields which have been occupied by rice. 

 As the plant is grown in India only for its seed, it is sown much thinner 



