Linum virginianum
Linum aristatum
Virginia yellow flax, woodland flax, woodland yellow flax
bristle flax, broom-flax
erect, branches 1–several from base, unbranched proximal to inflorescence.
stiffly spreading-ascending, slender, broomlike, branched throughout.
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.
alternate or proximalmost opposite, proximal leaves spreading, distal leaves appressed-ascending;
stipular glands usually present;
blade linear, 5–20 × 0.3–1.1 mm, margins entire, not ciliate, apex acute.
corymbs.
diffuse panicles, branches relatively long, stiffly spreading-ascending.
1–10 mm.
6–30 mm, slender.
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.
sepals deciduous, outer linear-lanceolate, 5.5–9 mm, apex attenuate, inner somewhat broader, shorter, margins narrowly scarious, glandular-toothed, apex awn-tipped;
petals faintly maroon at base, otherwise yellow to yellow-orange throughout, obovate, 8–12 mm;
stamens 5–7 mm;
anthers 0.7–1.1 mm;
staminodia absent;
styles connate nearly to apex, 4.5–7 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.
narrowly ellipsoid, 3.5–4.5 × 2.5–3 mm, thin-walled, apex obtuse, dehiscing into 5, 2-seeded segments, segments persistent on plant, false septa complete, proximal part membranaceous, not terminating in loose fringe, distal part cartilaginous, margins not, or only sparsely, ciliate.
1–1.5 × 0.6–0.9 mm.
2.5–3 × 0.8–1 mm.
= 36.
= 30.
Linum virginianum
Linum aristatum
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.)
The corollas of Linum aristatum are broadly funnelform and almost entirely rich yellow to yellow orange with a faint blush of maroon toward the base. The stamens and styles are yellow; the stigmas are greenish yellow. Linum aristatum is highly branched, giving it a bushy look. It can be recognized by narrowly ellipsoidcapsules and long-attenuate sepals.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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