Linum perenne

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Linum perenne
Linumperenne1.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Linaceae
Genus: Linum
Species:
L. perenne
Binomial name
Linum perenne
L.
Synonyms [1]
List
    • Adenolinum perenne (L.) Rchb.
    • Adenolinum sibiricum Rchb.
    • Linum alpestre Bubani
    • Linum alpinum Schangin
    • Linum brevisepalum Juz.
    • Linum darmstadinum Alef.
    • Linum decurrens Kellogg
    • Linum elatum Salisb.
    • Linum perenne roseum Barr & Sugden
    • Linum sibiricum DC.

Linum perenne, the perennial flax, [2] blue flax or lint, is a flowering plant in the family Linaceae, native to Europe, primarily in the Alps and locally in England. It has been introduced into North America, where it can be found on mountain ridges, wooded areas, and in sandy plain habitats of the sagebrush steppe, growing near sagebrush and rabbitbrush ( Chrysothamnus ). [3]

Contents

It is a slender herbaceous perennial plant growing to 90 centimetres (3 ft) tall from a fairly woody root crown, with tough, unbranched stems, [3] and many spirally arranged narrow lanceolate leaves 1–2.5 cm long. The flowers are blue, 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) in diameter, and have five petals. [3] The flowers will fall off if the stems are broken. [3]

The English populations are sometimes distinguished as Linum perenne subsp. anglicum and high altitude populations in the Alps as Linum perenne subsp. alpinum. The similar western North American species Linum lewisii is sometimes treated as a subspecies of L. perenne.

Native Americans used the stems to make fishing line and nets. [3] [ dubious discuss ]

Cultivation

Cultivars for garden use include 'Blue Sapphire'.

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<i>Linum marginale</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Scilla bifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

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References

  1. "Linum perenne L." Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  2. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Taylor, Ronald J. (1994) [1992]. Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary (rev. ed.). Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. p. 62. ISBN   0-87842-280-3. OCLC   25708726.

Further reading