Family |
Linaceae
Linum toxicum
Boiss.
Leb. Syr. Pal.
Linum toxicum Boiss.
First published in Fl. Orient. 1: 854 (1867).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, p. 451, Pl. CLXXXVII, 6; 1970)
Description
Life-form & habit: Dwarf, hairless, slightly bluish-green subshrub, 5–15 cm tall. Branching begins below ground, producing short, stiff, often interwoven branches and pale stems.
Leaves: Oblong-lanceolate, somewhat thick, dark bluish-green, with a narrow membranous margin; sometimes opposite near the base.
Inflorescence & flowers: Few, solitary axillary or terminal flowers. Sepals are oblong and somewhat pointed, 4–5 mm long, with very narrow membranous edges. Corolla pale yellow, 10–15 mm long.
Fruit: Capsule barely overtopped by the slightly enlarging sepals.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Flowering May–July.
Habitat & elevation: Rocky places.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Mount Hermon summit and Sannine.
Syrian distribution: Mount Hermon summit.
Native range: Lebanon-Syria, Palestine.
⚠️ Taxonomic note:
Mouterde places this species close to Linum mucronatum and notes that the distinction is not sharply defined. Kew currently accepts Linum toxicum as a separate species.