NATURAL OEDEKS. 
257 
styles ; c, vertical section of the base of the pistil and receptacle, magnified ; d, a 
transverse section of the seed, showing the leafy convolute cotyledons. 
430. LiNACEiE, the Flam Tribe. — Herbs with entire, and sessile 
leaves^ usually alternate, and exstipulate. Sepals 3-5, persistent 
with an imbricated aestivation. Petals as many as the sepals, 
with a twisted aestivation. Stamens equal in number to the 
petals, with which they alternate usually with intermediate 
teeth, or abortive stamens, all united at the base into a hypo- 
gynous annular disk. Ovary with as many styles and cells as 
sepals ; stigmas capitate ; ovules pendulous. Fruit a many- 
celled capsule, each cell more or less completely divided by a 
false dissepiment arising from the dorsal suture. Seeds single 
in each spurious cell ; embryo straight, surrounded by a tnin 
albumen ; cotyledons flat, fleshy, and oily. 
«, Properties : these plants yield mucilage and fiber which are valuable. 
G ENUS. — Linum. 
431. OxALiDACE^, tlie WoodrSorrel Tribe. — Low herbs with 
alternate, compound leojves.^ generally without stipules. Sepah 5, 
equal, persistent, imbricate in aes- 
tivation. Petals 5, unguiculate, 
with a twisted aestivation. Sta- 
mens 10, monadelphous, in 2 rows, 
those opposite the petals being 
longer than those in the outer 
row. Carpels 5, united into a 
compound ovary ; styles distinct. 
Fruit a membranaceous, 5-lobed, 
6-celled capsule. Seeds few, at- 
tached to a central placenta ; em- 
bryo large and straight, in thin 
albumen. 
a. Properties : the herbage is sour, and con- 
tains oxalic acid. Some plants of this order 
yield esculent roots. 
Genus. — Oxalis. 
Fig. 182, a, Oxalis violacea, with the bulb 
as in summer, producing numerous subter- 
ranean branches, and a thickened root below ; 
6, the pistil, with the ring of stamens laid open ; c, vertical section of a pistil, mag 
nified ; d, an ovule, more magnified. 
432. Zygophyllace^. — Herbs^ shrubs., or trees. Leaves oppo 
site, stipuled, usually compound. Calyx 4 or 5 parted, convo- 
lute in aestivation. Petals alternate with the segments of the 
calyx, imbricated in aestivation. Ovary simple, 4 or 5 celled. 
Fruit capsular, with 4 or 5 angles or wings. Seeds few, with 
whitish albumen ; embryc green ; cotyledons foliaceous. 
Gends. — Tribulu? 
