- Linum bienne
Taxobox
name = "Linum bienne"
image_width = 240px
regnum =Plant ae
divisio =Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Malpighiales
familia =Linaceae
genus = "Linum "
species = "L. bienne"
binomial = "Linum bienne"
binomial_authority = Mill."Linum bienne" (Pale Flax) is a
flowering plant in the genus "Linum ", native to theMediterranean region and westernEurope , north toEngland andIreland .The Pale Flax grows as a biennial or
perennial plant in dry, sunny calcareous or neutral grasslands from sea level up to 1000 metres. It has long, narrow stems to 60 cm tall and slender leaves 1.5-2.5 cm long. Theflower s have five petals about 1 cm long and nearly round; they are pale blue but streaked with darker colour. It flowers in late spring and, at least in more temperate regions, through the summer. The flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated bybee s andwasp s.The Pale Flax has been considered as a possible wild forebear of the cultivated Common Flax, and a fibre can be made from its stem. It is sometimes grown as a garden plant.
It has been introduced into
North America , where it is naturalised on thePacific coast fromOregon to the central coast ofCalifornia , and also inPennsylvania ; it is also found inHawaii .References
*Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). "Illustrated Flora of Britain and Northern Europe". Hodder & Stoughton.
*Huxley, A. (1992). "New RHS Dictionary of Gardening" vol. 3: 93. Macmillan.
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