Family |
Linaceae
Linum pubescens
Banks & Sol.
Linum pubescens Banks & Sol.
First published in A.Russell, Nat. Hist. Aleppo, ed. 2. 2: 268 (1794).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, p. 454, Pl. CLXXXIX, 2; 1970)
Description
Life-form & habit: Hairy annual, often with several erect, cylindrical, pale stems, 30–80 cm tall.
Leaves: With 3–5 veins and scattered hairs; lower leaves oblong and blunt, upper leaves oblong-lanceolate and pointed.
Inflorescence & flowers: Often broad, branching clusters whose branches lengthen considerably. Sepals have scattered hairs and a comb-like glandular fringe. Large, broad petals are usually bright pink, occasionally white, and may reach or exceed 3 cm in length.
Fruit: Capsule about one-third as long as the sepals.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Flowering March–May.
Habitat & elevation: Roadsides and degraded woodland.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Ras Bayada, north of Tyre, Adloun, Saida, Beirut, Ras Chekka, Tripoli, Akkar plain, Maghdouche, Abey, Maasser, Jamhour–Bsouss road, above Choueifat, north of Jabal Terbol, Deir el Qamar, Asfouriye, Rayfoun, Mount Hermon below 2,000 m, Sarada, Mreijatte, Cheikh Mohammed, Zahle and Kfertay.
Syrian distribution: Latakia, Jeble, Bhamra, Homs–Safita, Wadi el Qarn, Karatchok Dagh pass, Aleppo, Jabal Semaane, Hamidiye and Soueida.
Native range: Albania, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Iraq, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Sinai, Türkiye.