Linum L., Sp. Pl. ed.1: 277. 1753; Gen. Pl. 5: 135. 1754; Boiss, Fl. Or. 1: 1848; 1867; Roxb., Fl. Ind. 277. 1832; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 410. 1875; T. Cooke, Fl. Bomb. Pres. 1: 154. 1901; Fl. North Amer. @ eFloras.org vol. 12; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org

Erect herbs, rarely shrubby below. Leaves alternate, linear to lanceolate, sessile. Inflorescences usually panicles, racemes or cymes, rarely thyrses or corymbs. Flowers ebracteate, actinomorphic, bisexual, 5-merous, hypogynous. Sepals 5, free, entire, margin scarious. Petals 5, linear to lanceolate or obovate. Glands 5, adnate to staminal tube opposite the petals. Stamens 5, connate at the base, staminodes 0 or 5, as small deltate projections. Carpels 5, ovary 10-locular due to secondary septa; styles 5, free to connate at base; stigma linear to capitate. Fruit a septicidal capsule. Seeds 10, lenticular.

215 species

Linum grandiflorum Desf., Fl. Atlant. 1: 278, plate 78. 1798; Bailey, Stand. Cyclop. Hort. 4: 1886. 1919; Fl. North Amer. @ eFloras.org vol. 12; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org

Annual herbs up to 60 cm tall. Stem erect, ascending or sometimes decumbent at base, branched, glabrous. Leaves alternate, sessile, 15-22 mm x 2-14 mm, broadly lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, (1-)3-5(-7) palmately-nerved, margin entire, occasionally ciliate, base cuneate or rounded. Inflorescence few-flowered cymes or solitary axillary. Flowers ca. 3 cm across, red, actinomorphic, bisexual, 5-merous, hypogynous. Pedicels up to 4 cm long, elongating in fruit. Sepals 5, free, imbricate, unequal, 11-14 mm x 3-5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, margin scarious, fimbriate near apex, persistent. Petals 5, free, with 10-12 mm long claw and 13-18 mm x 16-17 mm, obovate limb, bright red to maroon, fading to purple. Stamens 5; filaments ca. 10 mm long, dilated and connate at base; anthers ca. 6.5 mm long, bithecous. Staminodes 0. Carpels 5, syncarpous; ovary ovoid, ca. 3.5 mm long, 10-locular due to secondary septa, 1 ovule per loculus, placentation axile; styles 5, filiform, connate at base; stigmas linear or clavate. Capsules ovoid-globose, 6-7 mm long and 7-8 mm in diameter, apex apiculate, segments persistent on plant, 10 seeds per carpel. Seeds 3.5-4 mm x 2.5 mm, ovate, brown or brown-black, compressed.

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