Linum catharticum
Linum floridanum
fairy flax, lin purgatif, purging flax, white flax
Florida yellow flax
erect, usually unbranched proximal to inflorescence, sometimes branched from decumbent base.
erect, usually unbranched, sometimes branched from base.
blade narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate or narrowly obovate or oblong, larger 5–18 × 1.4–3.1 mm, largest at midstem, reduced in size both proximally and distally, apex obtuse to acute.
proximal usually opposite, distal alternate, rarely all alternate, appressed-ascending;
stipular glands absent;
blade linear-oblanceolate or oblanceolate, 10–20 × 1–3.2 mm, margins entire, not ciliate, apex sharply acute.
panicles.
corymbs.
6–35 mm.
0.5–3.5 mm.
sepals broadly lanceolate to ovate, outer sepals 2–3 mm, inner sepals broader, shorter, margins of all or sometimes only of inner sparsely but conspicuously glandular-toothed, apex acute to acuminate;
petals white or whitish, base yellowish, 2–5 mm, obovate;
stamens 1 mm, anthers 0.2–0.3 mm;
styles 0.5–1 mm.
sepals persistent, narrowly lanceolate, outer sepals 2.5–4.5 mm, inner somewhat shorter, broader than outer, margins not scarious, inner conspicuously glandular-toothed, outer entire, apex acute;
petals lemon yellow, obovate, 5.5–9.5 mm;
stamens 2 mm;
anthers 0.5–1.5 mm;
staminodia absent;
styles distinct, 2–4.5 mm;
stigmas capitate.
ovoid, 2–2.5 × 2 mm, fragile and subject to crushing when pressed;
segments persistent on plant, septa margins ciliate.
pyriform or ovoid, 2–3.4 × 2–3 mm, apex obtuse or minutely 5-apiculate, dehiscing freely into 10, 1-seeded segments, segments persistent on plant, false septa nearly complete, proximal margins not ciliate.
1–1.5 × 0.6–0.8 mm.
1.6–2.5 × 0.7–1.2 mm.
= 16.
Linum catharticum
Linum floridanum
Linum catharticum has small, white, funnelform corollas, yellow anthers, and light green stigmas. It is the only Linum in the flora area with white petals and opposite leaves. The species is widespread in Europe and occurs only sporadically in the northern United States and most of its range in Canada. It may be native in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, where it is well established.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Linum floridanum occurs only on the coastal plain. Leaves of the species are firm and opaque, and the veins are not shown in transmitted light. All parts of its flower are yellow except the anthers, which may have wine red coloring; the corolla is nearly rotate, and the styles are spreading.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Anthers 0.5–1.2 mm; capsules pyriform, 2–3 mm, walls relatively thin, apex obtuse. | var. floridanum |
1. Anthers 1–1.5 mm; capsules ovoid, 2.8–3.4 mm, walls relatively thick textured, apex minutely 5-apiculate. | var. chrysocarpum |
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