Key to Linum

View taxon page for Linum

(For a list of species in Linum, use the above link.)

Jepson Manual glossary definitions can be seen by moving your cursor over words underlined with dots.

1. Petals yellow to orange, stem glabrous or puberulent.

2. Petals 10–15mm, with dark red band at base, free; fruit 5-segmented, stem 

puberulent 

Minutely hairy.

..... L. puberulum

2' Petals 3.5–6 mm, without dark red band at base, fused at base; fruit 10-segmented, stem glabrous ..... L. trigynum

1' Petals bright red to maroon, or blue to white; stem glabrous

3. Petals bright red to maroon; all sepal margins conspicuously 

ciliate 

Having generally straight, conspicuous hairs along margins or edges.

..... L. grandiflorum

3' Petals blue to white; margins of inner sepals 

entire 

Having margins that are continuous and smooth (i.e., without teeth, lobes, etc.).

or minutely toothed to ciliate

4. Stigmas head-like; margins of inner sepals entire, not ciliate; 

perennial 

Completing life cycle (germination through death) in more than two years or growing seasons, generally non-woody (at least above ground) to woody; includes perennial herbs as well as subshrubs to trees; the abbreviation 'per' only refers to perennial herb, not to the word 'perennial' alone.

 herb ..... L. lewisii var. lewisii

4' Stigmas elongate, 

linear 

Elongate, with nearly parallel sides; narrower than elliptic or oblong.

to club-shaped; margins of inner sepals minutely ciliate or toothed (entire); annual, weak perennial herb, or biennial

5. Petals 6–10 mm; fruit generally 4–6 mm wide ..... L. bienne

5' Petals 10–15 mm; fruit 5–10 mm wide ..... L. usitatissimum

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