LINUM TRIGYNUM

Family and Genus:- See- LINACEAE/Sect. LINASTRUM

Common Names:- Southern flax

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Linum (L) Ancient name for flax.

Trigynum (Gr) With a three-partite ovary

General description:- Glabrous annual.

Stems:-

1) 10-30 cm, erect or ascending.

Leaves:-

1) 1-2(-3) mm wide, lower alternate. linear-lanceolate to narrowly elliptical, with

smooth margins.

Flower:-

1) Sepals, 3-4 mm, shortly acuminate with glandular-ciliate margins and setaceous

apex, much exceeding the capsule.

2) Petals, 4-6 mm, yellow.

3) Stigmas linear.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, c. 2 mm, subglobose, beak c. 0·3 mm. homostylous.

Key features:-

1) Lower leaves, alternate.

2) Sepals, much exceeding capsule.

3) Leaf-margins, smooth, entire.

4) Petals, 4-6 mm.

5) Stems, less than 30 cm.

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Habitat:-Dry grassland, scrub, open woodland, olive groves. 0-1300 m.to June.

Distribution:- Mainly S. Europe. Widespread across Crete.

Flowering time:- Mid-Apr to June.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis