Linum virginianum
Linum imbricatum
Virginia yellow flax, woodland flax, woodland yellow flax
tuft flax
erect, branches 1–several from base, unbranched proximal to inflorescence.
spreading to ascending or erect, branched from base.
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.
proximalmost opposite, middle and distal alternate, closely imbricate, proximal leaves spreading-ascending, distal strongly appressed;
stipular glands absent;
blade linear-lanceolate, 5–9 × 0.5–1.2 mm, margins entire, distal leaves sparsely ciliate, apex short-awned;
midrib cartilaginous.
corymbs.
panicles;
bracts ciliate.
1–10 mm.
2–11 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.
sepals persistent, ovate, 4.2–6.1 mm, margins broad, purplish, scarious, prominently toothed distally, not glandular-toothed, apex conspicuously awn-shaped;
petals yellow, with or without dark red base, obovate, 6.5–8 mm;
stamens 5 mm;
anthers 0.6–1.2 mm;
staminodia absent;
styles connate to within 0.3–0.8 mm of apex, 2–4.3 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.
broadly ovoid, 2.6–3 × 2.9–3.3 mm, apex rounded, dehiscing into 5, 2-seeded segments, segments persistent on plant, false septa hyaline, with cartilaginous portion conspicuously broader near base, proximal margin appressed-pilose, otherwise glabrous.
1–1.5 × 0.6–0.9 mm.
2–2.6 × 1.1–1.5 mm.
= 36.
= 30.
Linum virginianum
Linum imbricatum
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.)
Linum imbricatum stamens have red filaments and yellow pollen and anthers, a very showy combination against the broadly bowl-shaped, butter yellow corollas often with a broad, wine red base. The stems are terete proximally and strongly ribbed distally; the sepals persist even in fruit. Linum imbricatum occurs in southern Oklahoma, is scattered in Texas, and is known from one report from Acadia Parish, Louisiana.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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