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, perennial herb
Stem 590 cm
Leaves alternate, opposite, or whorled, erect, glabrous or hairy; margins entire or gland-toothed
Inflorescence: raceme or cyme
Flower: sepals 5, margins generally translucent; petals 5, 825 mm; stamens 5; staminodes 5 or 0; ovary chambers 10, styles 5, free or not, stigmas > styles in width (spheric or ± elongate) or = styles in width (± linear)
Fruit 510 mm
Seeds 10, generally gelatinous when wet
Species in genus: ± 200 species: temp & subtropical, especially Medit. Linum usitatissimum has been reported from D as a garden escape
Etymology: (Latin: flax)
Introduced |
Annual
Stem glabrous
Leaf 1020 mm, lanceolate, glaucous
Inflorescence: pedicels 2070 mm
Flower: sepals 78 mm, lanceolate, ciliate; petals 1530 mm, red; anthers blue; staminodes pink; styles free, stigmas ± = styles in width, elongate
Fruit < sepals
Ecology: Uncommon. Grasslands
Elevation: < 150 m.
Bioregional distribution: Central Coast
Distribution outside California: native to n Africa