Stiff yellow flax Stiff yellow flax

Linum virginianum Linnaeus var. medium Planchon, London J. Bot. 7: 480. 1848; Cathartolinum medium (Planchon) Small

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.

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): c, e North America, West Indies (Bahamas).

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

Lower Taxa

• Linaceae de Candolle ex Perleb
• Linum medium var. medium
• Linum medium var. texanum (Planchon) Fernald