Linum grandiflorum Desf. var. rubrum Vilm.    

 

Linaceae  (Flax Family)                                                                                 North Africa

 

Scarlet 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