pale flax
Linaceae (Flax family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Photograph
Species Information
General:
Biennial, or sometimes perennial herb from a taproot; stems erect, solitary, branched, glabrous, 10-50 cm tall.
Leaves:
Stem leaves alternate, linear-lanceolate, 1-2 cm long, 1-2 mm wide, 3-veined at least 1/2 their length.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of saucer-shaped flowers in a loose, terminal cluster on stalks 5-18 mm long; petals blue, 8-10 mm long, soon deciduous; sepals tapering to a narrow tip, 4-6 mm long, glabrous, the margins rarely hairy.
Fruits:
Capsules, 5-6 mm long; seeds 2-3 mm long, egg-shaped, beakless.
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
Ecology
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
1094 | 1094 | 1094 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
58 | 58 | 58 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
0 | ||
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
1 | 1 | 1 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
1 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
IDF | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
IDF(1) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Mesic fields in the lowland zone; rare in SW BC; introduced from Europe.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Linum angustifolium Huds.
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 |