LINUM BIENNE

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

Common Names:- Pale flax

Homotypic Synonyms:- Linum angustifolium

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

Bienne (L) Biennial.

General description:- A tufted, low to medium, hairless biennial or perennial.

Stems:-

1) 20-50 cm, slender, simple or often branched from the base and sparingly so

above, ascending to erect.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate, simple, linear-lanceolate, 8-15 x 1-2 mm, 1-3-veined, entire, 1 to

3 veined, smooth edged, sessile, tightened against the stem over all its length,

acuminate.

Flower:-

1) Corolla, with 5 free petals from 7-15 mm long, pale blue or violet blue, striped

with darker blue, 2-3 times longer than the sepals.

2) Sepals, 5, 4-5·5 mm, subequal, ovate-acuminate, with a conspicuous midvein;

a) inner sepals, margins, scarious, and ciliate.

b) outer sepals, margins, entire.

3) Calyx, 5 mm long at the most, with a central vein protruding.

4) Stigmas, linear.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 4-6 mm, subglobose; beak c. 1 mm, acuminate, homostylous.

Key features:-

1) Sepals, shortly acuminate.

2) Petals, blue.

3) Stems, several.

4) Capsule, 4-6 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Sandy coastal habitats, grassy meadows, rocky slopes with dry open

shrubby vegetation and open scrub, road verges. 0-1100 m.

Distribution:- Widespread and common throughout the Mediterranean.

Widespread and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Late Mar to mid-June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton.