Narrow-leaved flax

Appearance

Narrow flax is a perennial, hemikryptophyte, small herbaceous plant, 10 to 30 cm high, with hairless, upright or sloping stems.
- stems 10-30 cm, ascending or erect, glabrous at the top
- leaves alternate, close together, linear awl, stiff, 1-veined
- flowers of a light pink or pale lilac, pedicellate, in corymbiform cymes
- sepals lanceolate, long acuminate-subulate, ciliate-glandular, with 1 vein, noticeably exceeding the capsule
- petals obovate, briefly acuminate at the top, 2-3 times longer than the sepals
- stigmas in the head
- ovoid capsule.

Naming

Linum is derived from the Greek linon (thread), because the bark contains long fibers. Tenuifolium means with fine or thin blades.
Synonyms: Cathartolinum tenuifolium (L.) Rchb., Leucolinum tenuifolium (L.) Fourr., Linum biforme subsp. tenuifolium (L.) Bonnier & Layens, Linum cilicicum Fenzl, Linum suffruticosum subsp. tenuifolium sensu auct., Linum tenuifolium subsp. milletii (Senn. & Barrau) O. Bolòs, Vigo, Masalles & Ninot
Frans: Lin à feuilles étroites
Nederlands: Smal Vlas
Duits: Schmalblättriger Lein

Distribution

Southwest Asia, North Africa and South and Central Europe.

Behavior

Flowers appear in May-June.

Habitat

Soil: Sunny, warm places in dry, moderately nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich, calcareous soil.
Growing places: Grassland (limestone grassland) and rocky places.