Localities. — In cultivated fields; occasionally among Flax, plentifully, but 
apparently imported with it from abroad, as it does not long propagate itself with 
us spontaneously. — Oxfordsh. In cornfields, occasionally; near Headington : 
Rev. R. Walker. Among Flax, in the experimental department of the Botanic 
Garden; 1841 : W. B. — Cambridgsh. Ctab Marsh, Wisbeach ; and Chippen- 
ham Gravel-pit: Rev. R. Relhan. — Derbysh , Normanton: Mr. Coke. Hea- 
nor: IIowitt, in N. B. G. — Dorset; Flax-fields about Bridport, and Lyme : 
Hudson. — Durham ; On the Ballast Hills of Tyne and Wear: N. J. Winch, 
F.sq. — Essex ; By the Horse and Groom near Lea Bridge, but scarcely wild : 
Mr. K. Foster, jun. — Leicestersh. Thrinkstone, among newly sown grass, in 
1833, but not appearing since: Ch. Babington, in N. B.G. — Middlesex; 
Road-side at Stoke Newington ; at Highgate ; and in the Isle of Hogs : Mr. J. 
Woods, jun. Hampstead Heath: Hunter. — Norfolk ; Out of St. Giles’s Gates, 
Norwich, by the road-side : Smith. Creek, and Burnham Norton : Miss Bell, 
in N. B. O. — Northamptonsh. In a Flax-ground at Hingley: Martin. — 
Northumberland ; In fields between Newcastle and Jesmond on newly broken- 
up ground; and on the Ballast Hills of Tyne and Wear : N . J. Winch, Esq. — 
Notts; Banks of the Trent opposite Coiwick: N. B.G. — Shropsh. Cornfields 
at llord’s Park, Bridgenorth : Rev. A. Bloxam. Among Flax, common: FI. 
Shropsh. — Somersetsh. Timber-yard at Bridgewater: N. B.G. — Suffolk ; In 
Lakenham Field, by Wangford: Mr. Eagle. — Surrey; Wimbledon Common : 
Mautyn. Wandsworth, and Merton: Mr W. Pamplin, jun. — Yorksh. On 
the foot-road from Thrisk to Thirlby ; cornfields at Clapgate, near Richmond ; 
near Rotherham; Pontefract; and Beverley; and on the Wolds. Never of 
long continuance in one station: Mr. Baines. Heslington Fields near York : 
Sir T. Frankland. — WALES. Montgomerysh. Cornfield near Welchpool : 
N. B. G. — SCOTLAND. Found occasionally in the counties of Argyle, Ayr, 
Edinburgh, Fife, Forfar, Lanark, Orkney, and Ross. — IRELAND. In 
fields, occasionally among Flax, with which it has been imported : FI. Hibern. 
Annual. — Flowers in June and July. 
Root small, tapering, fibrous. Stem from 18 inches to 2 or 3 
feet high, simple, panicled above, smooth, or more or less downy. 
Leaves alternate, spear-shaped, pointed, bright green, 2 or 3 inches 
long, entire, or slightly toothed, sometimes more or less hairy ; 
clasping the stem with their arrow-shaped base. Flowers small, 
pale yellow, in loose corymbose clusters. Petals blunt, entire (see 
tig. 4). Pouches (see figs. 5 & 6.) on long fruit-stalks, spear- 
shaped, bordered, 4-ribbed, smooth, inflated, and veiny ; terminated 
by the long style. Seeds (see fig. 7.) 6 or 8 in each cell, slightly 
angular, inversely egg-shaped, entire at the end. 
This plant is a native of Germany and the southern counties of 
Europe, in cornfields, and especially among Flax, with the seed of 
which it has been introduced into the more northern parts, as 
Sweden, Denmark, and Britain. It is cultivated in Germany for 
the sake of the expressed oil of the seeds, which the inhabitants use 
for medicinal, culinary, and economical purposes. 
The seeds are said to be a favourite food with geese ; horses, 
cows, goats, and sheep, eat the plant. 
Professor Burnett observes, that the pompous provincial name, 
Gold-oJ -Pleasure, is thought to have a satirical reference to the 
disappointment gold spent in pleasure falsely so called entails. 
