Linum lewisii Pursh
Lewis Blue Flax (Lewis flax; western blue flax)
Linaceae (Flax family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Lewis Blue Flax (Lewis flax; western blue flax)
Linaceae (Flax family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC
Linum lewisii ssp. lewisii
Species Information
General:
Perennial herb from a woody stem-base and a taproot; stems erect, usually several, simple, glabrous, 10-60 cm tall.
Leaves:
Stem leaves alternate, linear, 1-3 cm long, 1-3 mm wide, 3-nerved only at the bases.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of saucer-shaped flowers in a loose, terminal cluster on stalks 10-13 mm long; petals blue, 10-23 mm long, soon deciduous; sepals rounded at the tips, 4-7 mm long, the margins membranous, entire; styles heterostylic (of varying lengths).
Fruits:
Capsules, more or less round, 10-celled, 5-8 mm long; seeds 3.5-4.5 mm long, beakless.
Notes:
The closely related European herb, L. perenne presently occurs in a population at Knox Mtn., Kelowna. It differs mainly in having styles of uniform size.
USDA Species Characteristics
Flower Colour:
Blue
Blooming Period:
Indeterminate
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present from Spring to Summer
Source: The USDA
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Linum lewisii
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)
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) |
887 | 410 | 2133 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
28 | 0 | 76 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
225 | 4 | 360 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
2 | 0 | 4 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
55 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
IDF | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
BG(12), BWBS(1), ESSF(1), IDF(31), PP(7) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||