The Flax Family
What are they?
The most famous member of the flax family is the blue-flowered species from which we make linen, but flax flowers also come in pink, red, white and yellow. Most species are short to medium herbaceous perennials or annuals and typically grow in open, sunny habitats.
Where are they found?
Flaxes generally like open, sunny positions with most growing in old fields and grassy waysides. Some, however, also occur in wetter habitats.
Identification
The native, yellow-flowered flaxes of North America can be quite tricky to identify and there has been much confusion in books in the past. Detailed attention needs to be paid to all parts of the flower, especially the sepals and stamens.
Common Flax Linum usitatissimum
Introduced from Europe as a crop plant to produce linen. Now an occasional escape from cultivation, mostly as a constituent of so-called 'wildflower' mixes. Flowers June to August.
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Ridged Yellow Flax Linum striatum
In a wide range of usually wet or damp habitats. Flowers June to August.
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to stem |
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Stiff Yellow Flax Linum medium
In a wide range of usually dry habitats, but also sometimes on saltmarsh or wetland edge where drier, sandy patches occur. Flowers June to August.
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than seed pod |
to stem |
Scarlet Flax Linum grandiflorum
Introduced from Europe and an occasional constituent of so-called 'wildflower' mixes. Flowers June to September.
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