LINUM ARBOREUM

Family and Genus:- See- LINACEAE/Sect. SYLLINUM

Common Names:- Shrubby flax

Homotypic Synonyms:- Xantholinum arboreum.

Meaning:- Linum (L) Ancient name for flax.

Arboreum (L) Tree-like, branched.

General description:- Glabrous shrub ± caespitose, generally with leafless woody

branches.

Stems:-

1) To 1m., woody, terminated by leafy-rosettes.

Leaves:-

1) Leaves, (5-)10-20 x 3-10 mm, spathulate, thick, persistent, 1-veined, with

cartilaginous margins, often crowded in more or less dense rosettes, with a pair

of glands at the base.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, few-flowered, rather compact.

2) Sepals, lanceolate, acuminate, usually entire.

3) Petals, 12-18 mm,vbright yellow (occasionally paler).

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, (5-)6-8 x 5-6 mm, beaked, about equalling the sepals.

Key features:-

1) Leaves, glabrous.

2) Shrub up to 1 m, with thick, persistent leaves often in dense clusters at the ends

of woody branches.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Crevices and ledges of limestone and conglomerate cliffs, occasionally

rocky slopes with dry open shrubby vegetation and scrubland vegetation. 0-900 (-

1900).

Distribution:- Endemic S. & E. Aegean & SW. Turkey. Fairly common in the east

and west of Crete, but limited occurrence in the central region .

Flowering time:- (Jan-)Mar-May.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton

Status:-

Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981