Linum grandiflorum Desf. var. rubrum Vilm.
Linaceae (Flax Family) North AfricaScarlet Flax |
April Photo
Plant Characteristics:
Erect branching, leafy, glabrous annual, 1-2 ft. high; lvs. linear to
ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, grayish-green; fls. 1-1.5 in. across, red in
different shades or pink, terminating very slender pedicels which are 1-3 in.
long, forming a lax panicle, the petals much exceeding the pointed,
scarious-margined, ciliate sepals; sepals longer than caps.
Variety rubrum has bright red
fls.
Habitat:
Escape from cultivation. Drought
resistant, sun-loving plants. Each
bloom lasts but a day. Blooming
from late spring into summer or fall. (Sunset
Editors, New Western Garden Book, 1984. 353).
Name:
Latin, li-num, classical name of the
flax. (Bailey 603). Grandiflorum,
large
flowered.
(Bailey 15). Latin, rubrum, red.
(Jaeger 224).
General:
Rare in the study area, found only in one small colony, below a row of
houses, adjacent to the southerly edge of the 23rd St. area. L.
usitatissimum, is grown for its fiber and seeds, which yield linseed oil.
(Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book 1984. 353 and John Johnson). John Johnson also
reported finding L. usitatissimum north of the upper bay on Irvine lands.
L. lewisii seeds were used by
the Indians in cooking as they have a pleasant taste and are highly nutritious.
The stems were steeped for stomach disorders, and the roots were steeped for eye
medicine. The fiber was used for
string. Early settlers made a
poultice of the powdered seed, corn meal and boiling water, mixing this into a
paste for infected wounds and mumps. L.
lewisii is native to California and occurs easterly to Arkansas, the Rocky
Mountains, Texas and Mexico). (Sweet 44).
The entire plant of L.
usitatissimum is poisonous when ingested, especially the immature seeds.
These seeds have caused loss of life due to the toxic concentration of
nitrates and the high level of cyanide. Cooked
flax is considered edible. Linen is
made from the fibres of the flax plant. (James 33).
Text Ref:
Bailey 604; Munz, Flora So. Calif.
548.
Photo Ref:
April-May 94 # 2A,3A,5A..
Identity: by R. De Ruff,
confirmed by John Johnson.
First Found: May 1994.
Computer Ref: Plant Data 469.
Plant specimen donated to UC Riverside in 2004.
Last edit 8/6/04.
April Photo April Photo