07 - 08.pdf - University of Georgia

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C 234
LINUM ARBOREUM. TREE FLAX.
Clqfs and Order.
PENTANDRIA PENTAGYNIA.
Generic Character.
Cal. 5-phyllus. Petala 5 . Capf. 5-valvis, lolocularis. Sern*
folitaria.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
LINUM arloreum foliis cuneiformibus, caulibus arborefcenti-
bus. Linn. Syft. Vegetab. ed. 14. Mtirr. p. 303.
Ait. Kew..v. i. p. 3 88.
LINUM arboretim. Alp. Exot. 1 9. /. 13.
Contrary to what we obferve in moft of the plants of this
genus, the prefent very rare and no lefs beautiful fpecies of
Flax forms (if not a tree, as its name imports) a flirub of the
height of feveral feet, which begins to flower in the green-
houfe in March, and continues to be more or lefs covered with
bloflbms to the clofe of the fummer.
It is a native of "the Levant, from whence it was intro
duced to this country in the year 1788, with a profufion of
other vegetables, by JOHN SIBTHORP, M. D. the prefent
celebrated Profeffor of Botany in the Univerfity of Oxford;
who, for the laudable purpofe of promoting the fcience in
which he is fo eminent, and of enriching the Oxford collec
tion, already rendered moft refpeftable by his unwearied la-
tours, meditates, as we are informed, a fecond journey into
Greece.
Hitherto this plant has produced no feeds in this country,
and it is with difficulty increafed by cuttings.
Our figure was drawn from a plant which flowered in the
Iprmg with Meffrs. GRIM WOOD and Co. Kenfington.