86 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
3.— THE NARROW-LEAVED FLAX. (Linum angustifolium, Huds.) 
Synonyme. — L. tenuifolium, Withering. i Specific Character. — Sepals elliptical, three-ribbed, naked, pointed 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 381 ; 2nd ed., t. 455 ; and our fig. 3, ! as well as the capsule. Leaves linear-lanceolate, with three ribs, 
in PI. 19. I Stems numerous. ( Lindley .) 
Description, &c.— This species is very nearly allied to the Common Flax, but it is a perennial with a 
woody root. It generally grows near the sea in the southern counties of England. It is, however, occasionally 
found in sandy and chalky soils in various parts of the kingdom. It flowers in July. 
4.— THE PURGING FLAX. (Linum catharticum, Lin .) 
Synonyme. —Mill mountain. Specific Character. —Leaves opposite, obovate-lanceolate, panicle 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 382; 2nd ed., t. 456 ; and our fig. 4, forked; partly drooping. Petals acute. (Smith.) 
in PI. 19. 
Description, &c. —This is a little, insignificant-looking, annual plant, with very small white flowers. It 
grows abundantly in almost every part of England where the soil is dry, and was formerly much valued 
for its medicinal properties. It flowers nearly all the summer. 
THE FLAX-SEED. (Radjoua millegrana, Smith.) 
This little plant was formerly included in the genus Linum, but it w T as separated from it in consequence of 
the parts of its flowers being in fours instead of fives. It is generally found in sandy soils where the ground is 
moist ; and it flowers in July and August, bearing, afterwards, an amazing number of little capsules of seeds, 
from which, in some places, it has obtained the popular name of All-seed. 
CHAPTER XVI. 
THE LIME-TREE FAMILY. (Tiliace^e, Juss .) 
Character of the Order. —Sepals four to five, with a valvular 
aestivation. Petals four to five, entire, with a little pit at their base. 
Stamens generally indefinite, liypogynous, distinct; anthers two-celled, 
dehiscing longitudinally. Disk formed of glands equal in number to 
the petals at the foot of which they are placed, adhering to the stalk of 
the ovarium. Ovarium single, composed of from four to ten carpella; 
style one; stigmata as many as the carpella of the ovarium. Fruit 
dry, of several cells. Seeds numerous. Embryo erect in the axis of 
fleshy albumen, with flat foliaceous cotyledons.—Trees or shrubs; 
seldom herbaceous plants. Leaves simple, stipulate, toothed. (Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —The Lime-Tree is the only British plant included in this very small order. 
GENUS I. 
THE LIME-TREE. (Tilia, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Ceneric Character. —Calyx five-parted, deciduous. Petals five, 
with or without a scale on the inside. Stamens numerous, with dis¬ 
tinct or somewhat polyadelphous filaments. Ovarium with one style, 
and five two-seeded cells. Fruit coriaceous, one-celled, with one or 
two seeds. Cotyledons sinuate.—Trees with a bark separating into 
distinct layers; and light wood. (Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —There are four distinct kinds of Lime-Tree, natives of Great Britain ; but the most 
common kind is that known by the name of Tilia europwa. Of the others, T. grandifolia is known by the 
large size of its leaves, and T. parvifolia by its leaves being very small; while T. rubra has cordate leaves, 
unequal at the base, and the petioles of a bright and shining, though somewhat greenish, red. The flowers of 
