THE FLAX FAMILY. 



497 



flowers are called Geraniums^ by others Pelargoniums ; bo- 

 tanically the latter is correct, Geranium and Pelargonium 

 differing in the form of their flower and number of stamens. 

 In Geranium the petals are of uniform size and colour, form- 

 ing a regular flower with 10 stamens. In Pelargonium the 

 petals are of unequal size, and frequently differ in colour, the 

 flower being irregular, the stamens generally 7. 



Pelargonium roseum. A native of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 extensively cultivated in some parts of France for the ex- 

 traction of oil of geranium. It has also been found to pro- 

 duce an acid analogous to oenanthic acid, with which many 

 wines are said to be flavoured. The tuberous roots of some 

 of the species of Cape Pelargonium attain a considerable size ; 

 those of P. antidysentericum., for instance, are as large as a 

 man's head, and are used by the natives for many purposes. 

 These roots are more properly stems (tuber-corms) which 

 vary very considerably in appearance, some being more like 

 corals than land plants. In this country the family is repre- 

 sented by the native species of Geranium and Erodium. 



The Max Family. 



(LiNACEiE. ) 



Small shrubs or frutlets, perennial or annual. Leaves 

 simple, alternate. Flowers solitary, blue, white, or yellow. 

 Sepals and petals 4 or 5 each, the latter twisted in the 

 bud. Stamens 4 or 5, alternating with dent-like glands. 

 Fruit a dry 4- or 5-valved capsule, with 8 or 10 cells, each 

 containing a smooth flat seed. 



About 100 species constitute this family, all widely dis- 

 tributed, and found chiefly in temperate regions, one ex- 

 tending to New Zealand. 



Flax {Linum usitatissimum). The cultivated flax is a 

 slender, wiry-stemmed annual, attaining the height of 

 about 3 feet, terminating by several pretty blue flowers, 

 succeeded by a 5-valved capsule about the size of a large pea. 

 The cultivation of flax is of great antiquity, fabricated fibre 

 having been found amongst the remains of the pre-historic 



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