66 
XVI. LINACEiE 
5-celled ; styles 5, united near the base. Capsule | in. diam., 
separating into 5 two-seeded or 10 one-seeded valves. 
W. Himalaya, 3000-5000 ft. ; July-November. — Hilly districts throughout 
India. 
The common flax, L. usitatissimum, with sky-blue flowers varying to white, 
is cultivated throughout the plains and up to 6000 ft. in the hills, for the sake 
of the oil (linseed or alsi ki tel) expressed from the seeds, no use being made 
of the fibre contained in the stems. The plant has been cultivated from remote 
antiquity. 
2. REIHWARDTIA. In honour of K. Reinward b, a Dutch 
botanist. — -Hilly districts throughout India, ascending to 6000 ft. 
Reinwardtia trigyna, Planch . ; FI. Br. Ind. i. 412. A glabrous 
shrub. Stems 2-3 ft., erect or ascending. Leaves entire, ovate- 
lanceolate, 2-4 in., narrowed into a slender stalk, tip obtuse or 
acute, minutely mucronate, lower surface pale. Flowers about 
1 in. diam., axillary, solitary or in small clusters, sometimes com- 
bined in a terminal corymb. Sepals lanceolate, acute. Petals 
primrose-yellow, much longer than the calyx. Stamens usually 
in 2 sets, 3 long, 2 shorter. Ovary 3-5-celled ; styles usually 3, 
sometimes 4-7, longer or shorter than the stamens, more or less 
