common flax
Linaceae (Flax family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
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Species Information
General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems erect, solitary, simple or branched, 30-50 cm tall.
Leaves:
Stem leaves alternate, linear-lanceolate, 3-veined at least 1/2 their length, 1-2.5 cm long.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of saucer-shaped flowers in a terminal loose cluster on stalks 20-25 mm long; petals pale blue, rarely white, 10-14 mm long; sepals tapering to a narrow tip, 5-7 mm long, the innermost wider and minutely hairy on the margins.
Fruits:
Capsules, 10-14 mm long; seeds 3.5-4.5 mm long with a short, blunt beak.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Habitat and Range
Mesic to dry roadsides, fields and waste places in the lowland zone; rare on SE Vancouver Island, the Queen Charlotte Islands, and the lower mainland; introduced from Eurasia.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Linum humile Mill.
Linum usitatissimum var. humile (Mill.) Pers.
Taxonomic Keys
1. Plants perennials; sepals rounded at the tips, not fringed; leaves linear, 3-veined only at the bases...........................L. lewisiissp. lewisii
1. Plants annuals, biennials or perennials; sepals tapered to narrow points, inner ones usually fringed; leaves linear-lanceolate, 3 veined at least 1/2 their length. 2. Plants annuals; flower stalks 20-25 mm long; petals 10-14 mm long; capsules 10-14 mm long, or more; seeds with a short, blunt beak..........................L. usitatissimum 2. Plants biennials, or perennials; flowers stalks 5-18 mm long; petals 8-10 mm long; capsules 5-6 mm long; seeds beakless.............................L. bienne Source: Illustrated Flora of BC |