Linum puberulum

Plains flax, Plains Flax

Family: Linaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3

Plains flax is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native annual found in the desert mountains in rocky, sandy areas at elevations of 1,000 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces yellow to orange flowers with a distinctive red band at the base, each petal 10 to 15 millimeters long. Growing with delicate stems 5 to 25 centimeters tall that are lightly hairy (puberulent), it spreads in slender, linear growth. Its leaves are mostly alternate, measuring 5 to 20 millimeters long, narrow and entire, with small glandular stipules throughout the plant. The fruit is less than 5 millimeters wide, splitting into five distinct seed-bearing segments.

Habitat: Rocky, sandy areas

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: 1000-2000 m

Bioregions: DMtns

California counties: San Bernardino

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