74 
XV. LIN ACE Al. 
[ Linum . 
as many styles. Stigmas capitate. Capsule globose, crowned 
with the permanent base of the styles, 3 — 5-celled ; each cell 
partially divided into 2 by a spurious dissepiment, and opening 
with 2 valves at the apex. Seeds 1 in each spurious cell, in- 
verted. Embryo straight, large, thin, with little or no albumen. 
— Mostly herbs, with entire leaves and without stipules. — Linum 
catharticum is a purgative: L. usitatissimum is the common 
Flax. 
1. Linum. Petals, stamens and styles 5. 
2. Radiola. Petals, stamens and styles 4. 
1. Linum Linn. Flax. 
Sep. 5, persistent. Pet. 5. Siam. 5. Styles 5. Seeds ovate, 
compressed. — Named from Lin, thread , in Celtic and also in 
modern Gaelic. 
* Leaves alternate. 
1. Ti.*usitatissimvm L. ( common F.) ; annual, leaves alternate 
lanceolate, sepals ovate acute 3-nerved ciliate, petals crenate, 
stem subsolitary. E. B. t. 1357. 
Corn-fields, not unfrequent. 0. 7. — Stem 1 — L} ft. high, slender 
corymbosely branched above. Leaves distant. Flowers large, pur- 
plish-blue. Valves of capsule glabrous. — This, as may be inferred 
from its name, yields in the strong fibres of the bark of the stem, the 
valuable flax of commerce ; while from the seed a valuable oil is ex- 
pressed, known by the name of Lint-seed oil. The seeds, too, are highly 
mucilaginous, and much employed in poultices, fomentations, &c. 
2. L. perenne L. ( perennial blue F .) ; perennial, leaves alter- 
nate linear acute, sepals obovate obtuse obscurely 5-ribbed 
glabrous, stems numerous from the same root, peduncles erect. 
E. B. t. 40. 
Chalky hills: Cambridgeshire; Hinton, Northamptonshire; West- 
moreland, Norfolk, and Suffolk. Near Monkstnwn, Ireland. If.. 6,7. 
3. L. angustifdlium binds. ( narrow-leaved pale F .) ; perennial, 
leaves alternate linear- lanceolate acuminate 3-nerved, sepals 
elliptical three-ribbed mueronate, stems numerous from the same 
root. E. B. t. 381. 
Sandy and chalk’y pastures, principally near the sea : Kent, Sus- 
sex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Isle of Wight, Cornwall. Near Liverpool, 
and Plymouth. About Dublin. 2f.. 5 — 9. — All the three Bri- 
tish species of this division have a great similarity in their habit. 
The best characters, as observed by Sir J. E. Smith, are taken from 
the calyx. In the present th epetals are of a paler blue than in the 
preceding species, and smaller in proportion to the size of the calyx. 
“ Stems lax, very irregularly branched. Valves of capsule hairy.” — 
Bromf. 
** Leaves opposite 
4. L. catharticum L. ( purging F .) ; annual, leaves opposite 
