Linum hudsonioides

Herbs, annual, 5–30 cm, hirsutulous on angles distally, otherwise glabrous. Stems ascending to erect, branched from base. Leaves proximalmost opposite, distal alternate, imbricate throughout, proximal leaves spreading to ascending, distal closely appressed; stipular glands absent; blade awl-shaped, 5–10 × 0.5–1 mm, margins entire, distalmost narrowly scarious, not ciliate, apex of proximal leaves sharp-pointed, distal with short, slender terminal awn. Inflorescences panicles; bracts not ciliate. Pedicels 3–15 mm. Flowers: sepals persistent, lanceolate to ovate, 4.5–7 mm, margins broadly scarious, entire, or sparsely delicately toothed or, in age, ± lacerate, not glandular-toothed, apex conspicuously awn-tipped; petals yellow, with or without dark red base, obovate, 8–12 mm; stamens 5 mm; anthers 1–1.6 mm; staminodia absent; styles connate to 0.3–1.1 mm of apex, 2.7–6.3 mm; stigmas capitate. Capsules broadly ovoid, 2.7–3.5 × 2.8–3.6 mm, apex rounded, dehiscing into 5, 2-seeded segments, segments persistent plant, false septa entirely hyaline, or with very narrow, uniform, distal cartilaginous portion, margins tomentose near apex. Seeds 2–2.7 × 1–1.2 mm. 2n = 30.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–Sep.
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly prairies.
Elevation: 100–1400 m.

Kans., N.Mex., Okla., Tex.

Discussion

The corollas of Linum hudsonioides are very broadly bowl-shaped to nearly rotate and yellow, sometimes with a broad wine red band near the base. The filaments and styles are yellow or dark pinkish, anthers are yellow, and stigmas are bright green to yellowish. Its stems are nearly smooth proximally, ribbed distally. Linum hudsonioides occurs mainly in west-central Texas, the trans-Pecos region of western Texas, Harding and San Miguel counties of northeastern New Mexico, and southwestern Oklahoma; it is known in Kansas from a single historic record from Sedgwick County.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa