THE FLAX FAMILY 
[ORDER XIX. LINE^E] 
T HE Flax is distinguished from the Pink Family by the fruit being divided into distinct cells, 
and it is distinguished from the Geranium Family by its capsular fruit and by its entire 
leaves without stipules. 
It is a most useful, though a small, order, and is widely spread over the world. The flowers 
are very beautiful, extremely fragile, and of delicate colour. Those native to other countries and 
cultivated in our gardens are of gorgeous hues — vivid blues, reds, and orange. Apart from beauty, 
the Flax is one of the most useful of our plants, as the fibre of its slender stem is so strong and 
fine that it is invaluable for manufacturing into material for clothing. It is probably one of the 
first fibres ever used for weaving. We find that the Egyptians cultivated it largely, and it is many 
times mentioned in the early books of the Old Testament. Its seeds also are most useful. They 
contain a large quantity of oil, which is separated by crushing. This linseed oil is largely used by 
artists and painters. The cake which remains after extracting the oil is the oil-cake on which 
cattle are often fed in the winter, or when ground up it is the linseed-meal which we make into 
poultices. Flax will thrive in the cold countries of Northern Europe and in the tropical regions 
of Africa and Asia. Its cultivation and manufacture into linen form the chief industries of 
Ireland. 
FLAX-SEED, ALL-SEED. (RADIOLA, ROTH.)— A genus consisting of the one species — 
Common Flax-seed. (Radiola linoides, Roth.) — Flowers minute, white, numerous, in 
terminal clusters. Sepals 4, each 3-cleft, united half way up ; petals 4, minute, falling quickly ; 
stamens 4, alternating with 4 minute teeth ; carpels 4, united into a seedcase and separating into 
4 styles. Fruit a roundish capsule splitting into 4 cells, each containing 2 seeds. A minute, 
much branched, compact herb, 1-3 inches high, with opposite, entire leaves. [ Plate 29. 
Not common. Sandy heaths and commons. July — August. Annual. 
FLAX. (LINUM, LINN.) — Flowers showy, white or brightly coloured, in clusters with the 
central flow r er opening first (cymes). Sepals 5, not united (free), entire, remaining with the fruit ; 
petals 5, falling quickly (fugacious) ; stamens 5, united at the base into a ring and alternating with 
5 small teeth ; carpels and styles 5, becoming in fruit a capsule splitting into 5 2-seeded cells. 
