TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Annual, perennial herb, shrub
Stem generally erect, branched, glabrous, hairy, or glandular
Leaves generally cauline, alternate, opposite, or whorled, simple, sessile, generally linear to ovate; stipules glandular or 0
Inflorescence: raceme or cyme, axillary, open to dense
Flower generally bisexual, radial, nodding in bud; sepals 45, free, glabrous, hairy, or margins gland-toothed; petals 45, free, blue, white, yellow, or pink, ephemeral; stamens 45, alternate petals, generally appendaged; staminodes alternate stamens or 0; ovary superior, chambers 25 but becoming 410 by growth of false septa, styles 25
Fruit: generally capsule
Genera in family: 13 genera, 300 species: worldwide, especially temp; some cultivated (Linum usitatissimum , flax, linseed; L. bienne, L. grandiflorum , ornamental)
Reference: [Robertson 1971 J Arnold Arbor 52: 649665]
Annual
Stem 550 cm
Leaves generally alternate, generally thread-like to linear, generally flat, generally not clasping
Inflorescence: cyme, generally open; pedicels thread-like, generally ascending to erect
Flower: sepals 5, glabrous, hairy, or margins minutely gland-toothed; petals 5, generally widely spreading, 112 mm, yellow or white to rose, each with 3 small scales at inner base; stamens 5; staminodes 0; ovary chambers 4 or 6, styles 23, stigmas ± = styles in width
Fruit: surface smooth
Species in genus: 13 species: especially CA; mostly localized, mostly on serpentine
Etymology: (Greek & Latin: western flax)
Reference: [Sharsmith 1961 Univ Calif Publ Bot 32:235314]
Generally self-pollinated. Segregated from Linum.
Native |
Plant 1030 cm, nearly glabrous
Leaves alternate, linear
Inflorescence ± raceme-like, widely spreading; pedicels 625 mm, generally pendent or ± reflexed
Flower: sepals 1.53.5 mm, glabrous except margins minutely gland-toothed; petals 47 mm, white or pale pink, veins often darker; stamens 49 mm, anthers pink to red-purple margined white; ovary chambers 6, styles 3, 3.57 mm, whitish
Chromosomes: n=18
Ecology: Chaparral or woodland margins, including serpentine
Elevation: 1001000 m.
Bioregional distribution: c&s North Coast Ranges, w San Francisco Bay Area.