Contains 11 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Classification
Citation
LINUM Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 277. 1753.
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TYPE: Linum usitatissimum Linnaeus Lectotypified by Small, in Britton, N. Amer. Fl. 25: 67. 1907.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linum arenicola | SAND FLAX | Native Rare-State OBL (NWPL) | ||
| Linum carteri var. carteri | CARTER'S FLAX; EVERGLADES FLAX | Native Rare-State FACW (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Linum floridanum | FLORIDA YELLOW FLAX | Native FAC (NWPL) FAC (DEP) | ||
| Linum grandiflorum | FLOWERING FLAX | Not Native | ||
| Linum macrocarpum | SPRING HILL FLAX | Native Rare-State | ||
| Linum medium var. texanum | STIFF YELLOW FLAX | Native FAC (NWPL) FAC (DEP) | ||
| Linum smallii | SMALL'S FLAX | Native Rare-State | ||
| Linum striatum | RIDGED YELLOW FLAX | Native FACW (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Linum sulcatum | GROOVED FLAX | Native | ||
| Linum usitatissimum | COMMON FLAX | Not Native | ||
| Linum westii | WEST'S FLAX | Native Rare-State OBL (NWPL) OBL (DEP) |
Identification Key
1. Sepals eglandular; corolla bluish, red, to pink; stigmas elongate and introrse
2
1. Sepals (at least the inner ones) with marginal glands; corolla yellow; stigmas terminal and capitate
3
2. Sepals 8-12 mm long; petals red (drying pinkish), 15-35 mm long
2. Sepals 5-9 mm long; petals blue to white, 8-12 mm long
3. Style solitary at the base, branching into 5 stigmas
4
3. Styles 5, not united at the base, each style with one stigma
6
4. Style branches ca. 1.5-3 mm long below each stigma, the styles connate ca. 0.5-2 mm at the base
4. Style branches to ca. 1 mm long below each stigma, the styles connate ca. 4-7 mm at the base
5
5. Plant (11)17-28(33) cm tall, branching throughout; stem puberulent or scabrous throughout; stipules glandular; petals 9-11 mm long, 7-9 mm wide; anthers placed near stigma; style 4.4-6.1 mm long
5. Plant (17)28-45(64) cm tall, branching in upper half; stem glabrous, otherwise puberulent or scabrous only near the base; stipules eglandular; petals 11.5-17 mm long, 10-13 mm wide; anthers divergent from stigma; style 5.1-9.1 mm long
6. Capsules 1.3–2.3 mm long, depressed-globose or globose, apices depressed
8
6. Capsules 2–3.9 mm long, either pyriform to ovoid or subglobose, apices short-pointed
9
7. Margins of inner sepals usually with conspicuous stipitate glands; capsule segments usually persistent
7. Margins of inner sepals eglandular or with inconspicuous sessile glands; capsule segments usually deciduous
8. Leaves mostly opposite until just below the inflorescence branches
8. Leaves alternate, or opposite only in the basal third or less and alternate distally on most of the stem
9
9. Stipular glands reddish; leaf blade 5-15 mm long, 0.5-1.2 mm wide; petals 4-6 mm long
9. Stipular glands absent; leaf blade 10-25 mm long, 1-4 mm wide; petals 5-11 mm long
10
10. Margins of inner sepals glandular-toothed; capsules 2–3.4 mm long; seeds 1.6–2.5 mm long
10. Margins of inner sepals entire; capsules 3.4–3.9 mm long; seeds 2.8–3 mm long
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adenolinum | Adenolinum Reichenbach, Handb. Nat. Pfl.-Syst. 306. 1837. | TYPE: Non designatus. | |
| Cathartolinum | Cathartolinum Reichenbach, Handb. Nat. Pfl.-Syst. 306. 1837. | TYPE: Cathartolinum pratense Reichenbach, nom. illegit. (Linum catharticum Linnaeus; Cathartolinum catharticum (Linnaeus) Small) Lectotypified by Small, in Britton, N. Amer. Fl. 25: 69. 1907. | |
| Cliococca | Cliococca Babington, Proc. Linn. Soc. London 1: 90. 1841. | TYPE: Cliococca tenuifolia Babington | |
| Linopsis | Linopsis Reichenbach, Handb. Nat. Pfl.-Syst. 306. 1837. | TYPE: Non designatus. | |
| Meiapinon | Meiapinon Rafinesque, Fl. Tellur. 3: 32. 1837 ("1836"). | TYPE: Meiapinon saginoides Rafinesque | |
| Mesynium | Mesynium Rafinesque, Fl. Tellur. 3: 33. 1837 ("1836"). | TYPE: Non designatus. | |
| Nezera | Nezera Rafinesque, New Fl. 4: 64. 1838 ("1836"). | TYPE: Non designatus. | |
| Numisaureum | Numisaureum Rafinesque, Fl. Tellur. 3: 32. 1837 ("1836"). | TYPE: Non designatus. | |
| Xantholinum | Xantholinum Reichenbach, Handb. Nat. Pfl.-Syst. 306. 1837. | TYPE: Non designatus. |