18 
THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
\ 
GENUS I. 
LINUM Bauh. THE FLAX. 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Flowers with a quin.ary proportion of parts. Sepals entire. Styles very rarely three, but generally five, as well as 
the petals and stamens, (ff. Don.) 
Description, &c. — The genus Linum consists of a great number of species, some of which, like the common 
Flax used in making linen, are hardy annuals, generally with blue flowers ; and others greenhouse or stove plants, 
many of which are shrubby, and which have generally yellow flowers, though some are white or brownish. Of 
course, only the greenhouse species will be described in this work. 
1.— LINUM ARBOREUM Lin. THE TREE FLAX. 
Synonyme. — L. campannlatum Dec. 
Engravings — Bot. Mag., t. 234; andourj^i^. 3, in PI. 6. 
Specific Character.— Shrubby, glabrous, glaucous. Leaves cunei- 
form, obtuse, alternate, recurved. Flowers few, somewhat capitate. 
Sepals oval-lanceolate, acuminated. Petals thrice as long as the calyx. 
Style free. Stigmas oblong. ((?. Don.) 
Description, &c. — Though this plant is called the Tree Flax, it is, in fact, only a shrub, which rarely grows 
more than two feet high when kept in a pot in a greenhouse. It is a veiy pretty greenhouse plant, from its 
glaucous leaves and golden-yellow flowers, which it generally begins to produce in March, and wliich continue 
during the whole of the summer. It is a native of the Levant, whence it was introduced in 1788 by Dr. Sibthoi-p. 
2.— LINUM TRIGYNUM Boxb. THE THREE-STYLED OR INDIAN FLAX. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag., t. 1100; Bot. Rep., t. 449; axiA ova fig. 
4, in PL 6. 
Specific Character. — Shrubby, glabrous. Leaves alternate, ellip- 
tical, entire, pointed at both ends, feather-nerved. Flowers large, 
bracteate. Styles three, distinct. Capsule obtuse. Sepals lanceolate. 
Petals obovate, cmarginate. ((?. Don.) 
Description, &c. — This very beautiful plant is a native of India; but as it is found on the top of lofty mountains, 
it is considered only a greenhouse shrub in this country. It is, however, best to give it a little bottom-heat, either 
in a flower-house, or by plmiging the pot in a hot-bed, so as to stimulate it to form its flower-buds, and if it is put 
into heat in February, it will flower in its natural season, that is, in March or April ; whereas, if it is left in the 
greenhouse without any bottom-heat, it will not flower till July or August, and the flowers will be very inferior 
both in size and beauty. If kept in a stove all the year, it will flower in November and December. 
OTHER SPECIES OF LINUM. 
L. AFRICANUM Lin.\ Bot. Mag., t. 403. 
This species is a very slender shrub, with yellow flowers, which are produced in Jmie and July. It is a native 
of the Cape of Good Hope, whence it was introduced in 1771. 
L. QUADRIFOLIUM Un . ; Bot. Mag., t. 431. 
A pretty little herbaceous plant, with yellow flowers and glaucous leaves, the latter being produced in whorls 
of four each. It is a native of the Cape, whence it was introduced in 1787. It flowers in May and June. 
