Flora of North America species comparison

erect, branched at base and in inflorescence.

opposite near base or alternate throughout, appressed-ascending;

stipular glands present;

blade linear to linear-lanceolate, 8–20 × 0.5–2.1 mm, margins entire or with scattered minute marginal glands, not ciliate, apex acute; 1-nerved.

alternate, opposite, or whorled, simple;

stipules absent or present as small, dark, spheric glands;

petiole usually absent, rarely present;

blade margins entire, serrate, or denticulate;

venation pinnate.

panicles, with ascending to spreading branches.

terminal, racemes, panicles, or cymes (rarely thyrses or corymbs in Linum) [spikes].

0–3 mm.

sepals persistent, lanceolate to ovate, 2.5–5 mm, margins of inner sepals narrowly scarious, conspicuously glandular-toothed, apex acute or acuminate;

petals lemon yellow, oblanceolate or narrowly obcordate, 7–11 mm;

stamens 2–8 mm;

anthers 0.5–1 mm;

staminodia present;

styles distinct, 3–6.5 mm;

stigmas capitate.

bisexual;

perianth and androecium hypogynous;

hypanthium absent;

sepals 4–5, connate basally [distinct];

petals 4–5, distinct or coherent basally, imbricate or convolute, bases sometimes with appendages;

nectary extrastaminal;

stamens 4–5 [10], connate basally, filament tube and petal bases adherent or adnate [free];

anthers dehiscing by longitudinal slits;

pistil 1, 2–5-carpellate, ovary superior, 4–5-locular, placentation axile or apical-axile;

ovules 2 per locule, anatropous;

styles 2–5, distinct or partly connate;

stigmas 2–5.

capsules, dehiscence septicidal, or indehiscent or schizocarps breaking into 4 nutlets (Sclerolinon).

ovoid, 2–3 × 2–2.5 mm, apex sharp-pointed, dehiscing readily into 10, 1-seeded segments, segments falling freely, false septa incomplete, false and true septa margins ciliate.

1.2–1.9 × 0.7–1.1 mm.

2 per locule, seed coat often mucilaginous.

= 36.