BOTANY. 177 
the binoxalate of potassa which it contains. Some species yield tubers 
which have been used as substitutes for potatoes. 
Oxalis acetosella, Wood Sorrel (Europe and America) (pl. 67, fig. 10); 
a, plant with the rhizome ; 6, petal; ¢, stamens; d, capsule; ¢, do. burst; 
J, cross-section ; g-h, s088: 
Orver 172. Barsawmnaces, the Balsam Rennihe: Sepals five, irregular, 
deciduous, the two inner and upper connate, colored, the lower (odd) sepal 
spurred; zstivation imbricated. Petals alternate with the sepals, usually 
four, in consequence of one being abortive, often more or less irregularly 
united ; xstivation convolute. Stamens five. Ovary five-celled; ovules 
usually numerous; stigma sessile, more or less five-lobed. Fruit a five- 
celled capsule, opening septifragally, by five elastic valves. Seeds usually 
numerous, suspended, exalbuminous, with a straight embryo, and radicle 
next the hilum. Succulent herbaceous plants with watery juice, having 
simple, opposite, or alternate, exstipulate leaves, and axillary irregular 
flowers. They inhabit chiefly the East Indies, and are remarkable for the 
force with which the seed vessels open when ripe. The valves give way 
on account of the exosmose which goes on in the cells, and they then curl 
up in a peculiar manner. They have usually showy flowers, but their 
properties are unimportant. Lindley mentions two genera, including 110 
species. Examples: *Impatiens, Hydrocera. The sole North American 
representatives are two species of Impatiens, known as glass weed, and 
considered by some of the Indian tribes as efficacious in the bite of rattle- 
snakes. 
Orper 173. Linacez, the Flax Family. Sepals three, four, or five, 
persistent, with an imbricated estivation. Petals three, four, or five, 
fugitive, unguiculate, hypogynous, with a twisted estivation. Stamens 
equal to the petals and alternate with them (with intermediate teeth or 
abortive stamens), arising from a hypogynous annular disk; anthers ovate, 
erect. Ovary with as many cells and styles as sepals, seldom fewer; 
stigmas capitate ; ovules anatropal, pendulous. Fruit a plurilocular capsule, 
pointed generally with the indurated base of the styles ; each loculament or 
cell more or less completely divided by a spurious Beicercamint arising from 
the dorsal suture, and opening by two valves at the apex. Seeds solitary 
in each spurious cell, compressed, pendulous; albumen usually in small 
quantity, sometimes 0; embryo straight; cotyledons flat; radicle next the 
hilum. Annual and perennial plants, with exstipulate, sock entire leaves, 
which are usually alternate. They are scattered over the globe, but are 
said to be most abundant in Europe, and in the north of Africa. By some 
authors the order is associated with Geraniacex, from which it differs in its 
unbeaked fruit and exstipulate leaves, as well as the absence of joints in the 
stem. There are three genera mentioned by Lindley, comprising ninety 
species. Examples: Linum, Radiola. There are six North American 
species of Linum. The principal plant of the order is Linum usitatissimum, 
or the Flax plant. Flax is the woody fibre procured from the inner bark of 
the stalk, by steeping and stripping off the outer bark. When worked up 
it forms the various linen fabrics. Mummy cloth is made of linen, as is 
ICONOGRAPHIC ENCYCLOPADIA.—VOL, II. 12 b77 
