Linum perenne

Illustrator: John Myers

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Herbs, perennial, 20–100 cm, glabrous. Stems ascending or erect, usually unbranched. Leaves: blade linear or linear-lanceolate, 5–20 × 1–3 mm. Inflorescences much-branched panicles. Pedicels spreading, 5–25 mm. Flowers heterostylous; inner sepals ovate-lanceolate or ovate, 4.5–5.5 mm, margins glabrous, apex obtuse, outer ones lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 3.5–4.5 mm, narrower than inner ones, margins glabrous, apex acute or acuminate; petals blue, obovate or obovate-lanceolate, 10–25 mm; stamens 5 mm, anthers 2 mm (long-styled morph) or stamens 6.5 mm, anthers 1.8 mm (short-styled morph); styles distinct, 8 mm (long-styled morph) or 2.5 mm (short-styled morph); stigmas capitate. Capsules subglobose, 5–7 mm diam., apex acute to obtuse, segments persistent on plant, margins ciliate or not. Seeds 3–4.2 × 1.7–2 mm. 2n = 18.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–Aug.
Habitat: Disturbed areas.
Elevation: 100–1000 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

B.C., Ont., Yukon, Ariz., Colo., Idaho, Ill., Iowa, Maine, Mich., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.Y., Ohio, Oreg., Pa., Utah, Va., W.Va., Wis., Eurasia, introduced also in Mexico (Sonora).

Discussion

Most collections in North America identified as Linum perenne are most likely L. lewisii var. lewisii (D. J. Ockendon 1971; C. M. Rogers 1984). According to Ockendon, L. perenne is often confused with L. austriacum Linnaeus in Europe; its exact native distribution is not known.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.