Hesperolinon bicarpellatum

Two-carpellate western flax

Family: Linaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Two-carpellate western flax is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in southern North Coast Ranges Interior in serpentine chaparral at elevations of 60 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces yellow flowers 2 to 4 millimeters long with delicate petals. Growing 10 to 30 centimeters tall with an upright form, it has slender stems that are mostly smooth except just above the leaf nodes. Its leaves are thread-like and linear, growing alternately along the stem and remaining flat without clasping. The plant's distinctive yellow stamens are 3 to 5 millimeters long, matching its yellow styles which emerge from its 4-chambered ovary.

Habitat: Serpentine, chaparral

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: 60-1000 m

Bioregions: s NCoRI.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.