Linum medium

(Planchon) Britton

in N. L. Britton and A. Brown, Ill. Fl. N. U.S. 2: 349. 1897.

Common names: Stiff yellow flax
Illustrated
Basionym: Linum virginianum var. medium Planchon London J. Bot. 7: 480. 1848
Synonyms: Cathartolinum medium (Planchon) Small
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 384. Mentioned on page 378.

Herbs, usually perennial, rarely annual, 10–80 cm, glabrous. Stems erect, usually multiple from base, unbranched proximal to inflorescence. Leaves: proximal 3–20 pairs opposite, distal alternate, rarely (in northern plants) opposite nearly to inflorescence, erect to appressed; stipular glands absent; blade narrowly lanceolate to oblanceolate, 10–25 × 1.5–5.5 mm, margins entire, not ciliate, apex obtuse or apiculate. Inflorescences corymbs. Pedicels 0–5 mm. Flowers: sepals persistent, lanceolate, inner somewhat shorter, broader than outer, outer sepals 2–5 mm, margins not scarious, inner usually glandular-toothed, rarely entire, outer entire, apex acute; petals lemon yellow, obovate, 4.5–8 mm; stamens 2.5 mm; anthers 0.5–l.3 mm; staminodia absent; styles distinct, 1–3 mm; stigmas capitate. Capsules depressed-globose, 1.6–2.3 × 2–2.5 mm, apex depressed, tardily (or readily in var. medium) dehiscing into 10, 1-seeded segments, segments usually persistent on plant, false septa nearly complete, proximal margins not ciliate. Seeds 1.3–1.7 × 0.6–0.8 mm.

Distribution

V12 811-distribution-map.jpg

Ont., Ala., Ark., Conn., D.C., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Mass., Md., Mich., Miss., Mo., N.C., N.J., N.Y., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., Vt., W.Va., Wis., West Indies (Bahamas).

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

The corollas of Linum medium are broadly funnelform to nearly rotate, with all flower parts yellow except the brownish anthers.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Leaves opaque, apex obtuse; inner sepals usually sparsely glandular-toothed, sometimes entire. Linum medium var. medium
1 Leaves ± translucent, apex minutely apiculate; inner sepals conspicuously glandular-toothed. Linum medium var. texanum
... more about "Linum medium"
Nancy R. Morin +
(Planchon) Britton +
Linum virginianum var. medium +
Stiff yellow flax +
Ont. +, Ala. +, Ark. +, Conn. +, D.C. +, Del. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, Ky. +, La. +, Maine +, Mass. +, Md. +, Mich. +, Miss. +, Mo. +, N.C. +, N.J. +, N.Y. +, Ohio +, Okla. +, Pa. +, R.I. +, S.C. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Va. +, Vt. +, W.Va. +, Wis. +  and West Indies (Bahamas). +
in N. L. Britton and A. Brown, Ill. Fl. N. U.S. +
Illustrated +
Cathartolinum medium +
Linum medium +
Linum sect. Linopsis +
species +