BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
85 
GENUS I. 
THE FLAX. (Linum, Lin.) 
Lin. Sijst. PENTANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Parts of the flower quinary. Sepals entire. Styles very seldom 3. ( Lindley .) 
Description, &c.—The genus Linum takes its name from the Celtic word Llin, a thread, in allusion to the 
use made of the fibres of the common Flax in making linen ; the latter word being derived from Linum. The 
genus is placed in the Linnaean class and order Pentandria Pentagynia, from its having five stamens and 
five styles. 
1. —THE COMMON FLAX. (Linum usitatissibium, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1357 ; 2nd ed., t. 453 ; and our fig. j Specific Character. —Sepals ovate, acute, with three ribs. Petals 
1, in PI. 19. J crenate. Leaves lanceolate, alternate. Stem mostly solitary. ( Lind .) 
Description, &c. —The common Flax is not only a useful plant, but a very beautiful one; and though it is 
supposed to have been originally introduced from Egypt, and not to be a true native of Britain, it has become 
so thoroughly naturalised as now to be included in every work published on British Wild Flowers. It is an 
annual plant, growing about a foot and a half high, and bearing its flowers, at the termination of its branches, in 
a sort of panicle. Almost every part of the plant is useful. The stems are steeped in water till the cellular 
part separates from the woody fibre, and the latter is in a fit state for being afterwards spun into thread. The 
seeds, which are called linseed, are sometimes ground and then pressed, to extract from them the oil that they 
contain; and sometimes used for poultices, or made into a mucilaginous drink for coughs, called linseed tea. 
The following lines, by Mrs. Howitt, give a pretty description of the general appearance of the plant:— 
“ Oh, the little Flax-flower, 
It grotveth on the hill, 
And be the breeze awake or asleep, 
It never standeth still. 
It groweth, and it groweth fast; 
One day it is a seed, 
And then a little grassy blade, 
Scarce bigger than a weed. 
But then comes out the PTax-flower, 
As blue as is the sky ; 
And 'tis a dainty little thing, 
We say as we pass by. 
Oh, 'tis a goodly little thing— 
It groweth for the poor ; 
And many a peasant blesses it, 
Beside his cottage door.” 
2.— THE PERENNIAL BLUE FLAX. (Linum perenne, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eog. Bot., t. 40 ; 2nd ed., t. 454 ; and our fig. 2, in PI. 19. 
Specific Character.— Sepals obovate, obtuse, obscurely 5-ribbed, naked. Leaves linear-lanceolate. Stems numerous, ascending. (Lindley.) 
Description, &c.— This plant is a true native of Britain, and it is found abundantly on chalky soils 
in every part of the kingdom. It is a perennial, and flowers nearly all the summer. It is very frequently 
cultivated in gardens; but it will seldom live long or flower well, unless there is some lime in the soil. 
