Linum virginianum
Virginia yellow flax, woodland flax, woodland yellow flax
erect, branches 1–several from base, unbranched proximal to inflorescence.
proximal 4–10 pairs opposite, distal alternate, erect to spreading;
stipular glands absent;
blade of proximal leaves spatulate, central and distal elliptic, oblanceolate, or obovate, 15–25 × 3–7 mm, margins entire, not ciliate, apex acute to apiculate.
corymbs.
1–10 mm.
sepals persistent, lanceolate-ovate, inner shorter, broader, thinner than outer, outer sepals 2–4 mm, margins not scarious, inner sepals usually with a few small, sessile glands along margin distal to middle, rarely eglandular, outer ones entire, apex acute to acuminate;
petals yellow, obovate (sometimes notched at apex), 3–5.5 mm;
stamens 1.2–3 mm;
anthers 0.5–1 mm;
staminodia absent;
styles distinct, 1–2 mm;
stigmas capitate.
globose, carpels flattened or ± concave abaxially, 1.3–1.8 × 2–2.5 mm, apex depressed, dehiscing freely into 10, 1-seeded segments, segments falling freely, false septa nearly complete, proximal margins usually sparsely and inconspicuously few-ciliate.
1–1.5 × 0.6–0.9 mm.
= 36.
Linum virginianum
Linum virginianum lacks prominent marginal teeth on the inner sepals, thus distinguishing it from L. striatum. It has a less elongate inflorescence and lacks the ribbed branchlets found in L. striatum (C. M. Rogers 1984). The corollas of L. virginianum are nearly rotate; all parts of the flower are yellow except the brownish anthers. Its capsules shatter readily and often are absent on herbarium sheets.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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