Flora-Fauna

Linum strictum subsp. spicatum (Pers.) Reichenb.

First published as Linum strictum var. spicatum Pers., Syn. Pl. 1: 335 (1805)
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, as Linum strictum var. spicatum)

• Life-form & habit: Erect, rigid annual, with slender stems ending in a narrowly spiciform inflorescence; branches filiform, ascending, often forming a narrow, elongated floral axis.

• Leaves: Linear-lanceolate to narrowly spatulate, rigid, 1-nerved, margins slightly scabrous; densely arranged on the lower stem.

• Inflorescence & flowers: Inflorescence spiciform, consisting of compact axillary corymbules on very short peduncles. Sepals 3–4 mm, membranous with whitish base, mucronate. Petals yellow, 6–8 mm, slightly exceeding the calyx. Capsules ovoid, distinctly surpassed by the persistent sepals.

• Fruit: Ovoid capsules on slightly thickened pedicels; seeds typical of the Linum strictum group.

• Phenology: March – May.

• Habitat & elevation: Abandoned fields, rocky slopes, degraded woodland margins, Mediterranean scrub, and disturbed soils from lowlands to montane zones.

• Lebanese distribution: Widespread in Lebanon according to Mouterde, including Saïda, Beirut, Nahr Beyrouth, Ras Chekka, Bcharré – Les Cèdres, Jdita, the Beqaa margins, and the Anti-Lebanon foothills.

• Native range:
Baleares, Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia S-Caucasus), Corsica, Crete (incl. Karpathos), Cyprus, East Aegean Islands, Greece, Israel/Palestine–Jordan, Italy (incl. San Marino, Vatican), Lebanon–Syria, Libya, Morocco, Portugal, Sicily (incl. Malta), Spain (incl. Gibraltar, Andorra), Tunisia, Türkiye (Asiatic & European parts) (Euro+Med).

• ⚠️ Taxonomic note: The spicatum form corresponds to the typical eastern Mediterranean expression of the Linum strictum complex. Distinguished by its very compact axillary corymbules forming a continuous spike, and its early spring flowering. Mouterde’s material fits well within this subspecies and is the dominant form in Lebanon and Syria.