Flaxes

Pale Flax Upright Yellow Flax Pale Flax Smooth Yellow Flax



Flax Family - Linaceae

Pale Flax      Linum bienne

Native through western Europe, Macaronesia and the Mediterranean Region, eastwards to Iran. Usually a short-lived perennial but may occasionally be annual or biennial. Grows to 15-60cm in height with leaves alternate on a cluster of stems arising from a single rootstock. Flowers bright blue, often somewhat paler than those of other species. Stigmas rather elongate without an obvious 'head' at the top, about as long as the anthers. Sepals abruptly drawn to a short, tapered tip and about as long as the ripe seed capsule. Sepals and seed capsules 4-6mm long.

Pale Flax Pale Flax Pale Flax Pale Flax
Habit
Flower
Flower
Sepals
Pale Flax Pale Flax Pale Flax Pale Flax
Stigmas about same length
as stamens
Leaves
Seed capsule
Seed capsule


Smooth Yellow Flax      Linum trigynum

Native through most of the Mediterranean Region and parts of eastern Europe to the Caucasus and south to the Arabian Peninsula. Whole plant very slender; petals 4-6mm long; seed capsules c.2mm across.

Smooth Yellow Flax Smooth Yellow Flax Smooth Yellow Flax Smooth Yellow Flax
Habit
Habit
Flowers
Seed capsule


Upright Yellow Flax      Linum strictum

Native from Macaronesia eastwards through most of North Africa and southern Europe to the Middle East and Pakistan. Plant rather stiff-leaved and upright; petals 6-10mm long; flowers short-stalked and rather crowded together.

Upright Yellow Flax Upright Yellow Flax Upright Yellow Flax Upright Yellow Flax
Habit
Habit
Flowers
Flower
Upright Yellow Flax Upright Yellow Flax Upright Yellow Flax
Leaves
Leaves
Seed capsules