Linum rupestre |
Linum catharticum |
|
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rock flax |
fairy flax, lin purgatif, purging flax, white flax |
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Habit | Herbs, perennial, 20–75 cm, glabrous or rarely sparsely hairy proximally. | Herbs, 8–30 cm, glabrous. |
Stems | erect, branched at base and in inflorescence. |
erect, usually unbranched proximal to inflorescence, sometimes branched from decumbent base. |
Leaves | 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. |
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. |
Inflorescences | panicles, with ascending to spreading branches. |
panicles. |
Pedicels | 0–3 mm. |
6–35 mm. |
Flowers | 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. |
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. |
Capsules | 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. |
ovoid, 2–2.5 × 2 mm, fragile and subject to crushing when pressed; segments persistent on plant, septa margins ciliate. |
Seeds | 1.2–1.9 × 0.7–1.1 mm. |
1–1.5 × 0.6–0.8 mm. |
2n | = 36. |
= 16. |
Linum rupestre |
Linum catharticum |
|
Phenology | Flowering Apr–Aug. | Flowering Jun–Aug. |
Habitat | Sandy soils, rocky slopes and ledges, often on limestone. | Calcareous or sandy soils, fields, pastures, roadsides. |
Elevation | 150–1500 m. (500–4900 ft.) | 0–400 m. (0–1300 ft.) |
Distribution |
NM; TX; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León); Central America (Guatemala)
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MA; ME; MI; NH; NY; PA; VT; BC; NB; NF; NS; ON; PE; QC; Europe; w Asia; Atlantic Islands (Iceland) [Introduced in North America; introduced also in South America (Argentina), Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia (Tasmania)]
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Discussion | Linum rupestre has narrowly funnelform corollas and yellow stamens and styles. The anthers and stigmas are held closely adjacent at the mouth of the corolla tube, below the broad, spreading limbs. The species occurs from southeastern New Mexico and central Texas to Guatemala. It often grows with L. schiedeanum in Texas and Mexico. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
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.) |
Source | FNA vol. 12, p. 381. | FNA vol. 12, p. 377. |
Parent taxa | Linaceae > Linum > sect. Linopsis | Linaceae > Linum > sect. Cathartolinum |
Sibling taxa | ||
Name authority | Engelmann ex A. Gray: Boston J. Nat. Hist. 6: 232. (1850) | Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 281. (1753) |
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