Linum bienne |
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flax, narrow-leaf flax, pale flax |
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Habit | Herbs, biennial or short-lived perennial (flowering 1st year), 6–60 cm, glabrous. |
Stems | erect, usually branched from near base and in inflorescence. |
Leaves | blade linear to linear-lanceolate, 5–25 × 1–1.5 mm. |
Inflorescences | open panicles. |
Pedicels | 10–25 mm. |
Flowers | homostylous; sepals ovate, 4–5.5 mm, margins of inner sepals minutely ciliate, outer glabrous, apex acute to acuminate; petals blue, obovate, 6–10 mm; stamens 4–5 mm; anthers 1–2.5 mm; staminodia present or absent; styles distinct, 2 mm; stigmas linear or clavate. |
Capsules | broadly ovate to subglobose, 4–6 × 4–6 mm, apex very sharp-pointed, segments ± persistent on plant, margins ciliate. |
Seeds | 2.5–3 × 1.5–2 mm. |
2n | = 30. |
Linum bienne |
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Phenology | Flowering Mar–Aug. |
Habitat | Grasslands, woodlands, disturbed places. |
Elevation | 0–1900 m. (0–6200 ft.) |
Distribution |
CA; OR; PA; BC; Europe; n Africa [Introduced in North America; introduced also in South America (Argentina, Chile), Pacific Islands (New Zealand)]
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Discussion | Linum bienne is thought to be the progenitor of L. usitatissimum (D. J. Ockendon 1971). (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 12, p. 374. |
Parent taxa | Linaceae > Linum > sect. Linum |
Sibling taxa | |
Synonyms | L. angustifolium |
Name authority | Miller: Gard. Dict. ed. 8, Linum no. 8. (1768) |
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