Hesperolinon spergulinum
Hesperolinon micranthum
slender dwarf-flax, slender western flax, slender western or dwarf flax
common dwarf flax, small-flower dwarf flax, small-flower western flax, small-flower western or dwarf flax, small-flower white flax
alternate;
stipular glands absent or minute;
blade linear or narrowly oblong, 10–35 × 0.5–2(–2.5) mm, base flat, not clasping, margins without stalked glands.
alternate;
stipular glands present at proximal nodes, usually absent distally;
blade linear or narrowly oblong, 10–20(–30) × 1.5–2.5(–3) mm, base flat, not clasping, margins without stalked glands, surfaces sometimes microscopically glandular.
cymes monochasial (helicoid), open, internodes long, flowers widely scattered;
bract margins without prominent glands.
cymes monochasial (scorpioid or helicoid), open, internodes long, flowers widely scattered;
bract margins eglandular or glands inconspicuous.
5–15(–25) mm, 5–25 mm in fruit, pendent in bud, deflexed at 90° angle, slightly bent at apex.
(2–)5–8 mm (–25 mm in proximal axils), (5–)10–15(–45) mm in fruit, spreading at 45–60(–90)° angle, not or only slightly bent at apex.
sepals erect, not reflexed at tip, ovate, 1.5–2.5(–3.5) mm, equal, margins minutely gland-toothed, surfaces glabrous;
petals widely spreading to reflexed, white or pale pink, usually darker-veined, obovate, 4–7 mm, apex obtuse;
cup white, rim petal attachments in indentations;
stamens exserted;
filaments (3–)4–5(–7) mm;
anthers pink to red-purple, white-margined, dehisced anthers 1.2–2 mm;
ovary chambers 6;
styles 3, white, 3.5–7 mm, exserted.
sepals erect or reflexed at tip, lanceolate, 1–3(–4) mm, sometimes unequal, marginal glands absent or minute, surfaces glabrous;
petals not or only slightly spreading, white to pink, sometimes streaked with deeper pink or rose purple, usually oblanceolate, sometimes obovate, 1.5–3.5 mm, apex slightly notched;
cup white, rim usually glabrous, sometimes hairy, petal attachment often a prominent protuberance in sinuses;
stamens included;
filaments 1.5–2.5 mm;
anthers white to deep purple, dehisced anthers (0.3–)0.5–0.8(–1) mm;
ovary chambers 6;
styles (2–)3, white, 0.5–1(–2) mm, included.
= 36.
= 36.
Hesperolinon spergulinum
Hesperolinon micranthum
Hesperolinon spergulinum occurs in the central and southern North Coast Ranges; there are historical reports from Santa Clara County. The pendent buds, a result of the deflexed and sometimes downward-curved pedicel, and the relatively long styles and stamens are distinctive. The petal appendages are relatively well developed in H. spergulinum; the ligule may be as large as 1 mm and hairy.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Hesperolinon micranthum is the most widespread species of the genus. It occurs in Oregon east of the Cascade Mountains and southern Blue Mountains to southern Oregon. In California, it occurs in the Klamath and Cascade ranges, Warner Mountains, Modoc Plateau, on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, and in the North Coast and South Coast ranges, western Transverse Range, and Peninsular Ranges. Its southernmost population is near Cerro Matomi in Baja California. In much of its range, it is the only Hesperolinon species. It can be distinguished from other white-petaled species by its smaller flowers, included styles, and erect or only slightly spreading petals. In the southern part of its range, plants are generally smaller-flowered, have shorter pedicels, and more leaflike sepals; on the Modoc Plateau it grows almost exclusively on volcanic rock and plants are shorter, stockier, have broader leaves, shorter pedicels, and larger flowers. H. K. Sharsmith (1961) noted that any population may have some flowers in which appendages, auricles, or ligules are reduced or completely absent.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
CA
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
OR
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
