''Linanthus'' is a genus of

annual Annual may refer to: *Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year **Yearbook **Literary annual *Annual plant *Annual report *Annual giving *Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco *Annuals (band), a ...

and

perennial plant In horticulture, the term perennial (''wikt:per-#Prefix, per-'' + ''wikt:-ennial#Suffix, -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annual plant, annuals and biennial plant, biennials. It has thus been d ...

s in the

phlox ''Phlox'' (; "flame"; plural "phlox" or "phloxes", ) is a genus of 68 species of perennial and annual plants in the family Polemoniaceae. They are found mostly in North America (one in Siberia) in diverse habitats from alpine tundra to open ...

family

Polemoniaceae The Polemoniaceae (Jacob's-ladder or phlox family) are a family of flowering plants consisting of about 27 genera with 270–400 species of annuals and perennials native to the Northern Hemisphere and South America, with the center of diversity ...

. The species are found in western North America and in Chile, with the greatest diversity in

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. The stems are erect, with multiple branches arising directly from the base, and grow 2–15 cm tall. The

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

are stem-like (''

cauline A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, fl ...

'') and opposite, with shapes ranging from entire to palmately lobed, the 3-9 lobes being linear to lanceolate or spatulate. Flowers have a tubular

calyx CALYX, Inc. is a non-profit publisher of art and literature by women founded in 1976 based in Corvallis, Oregon. CALYX publishes both '' CALYX, A Journal of Art and Literature by Women'' twice a year and CALYX Books, which publishes one to three ...

, and the corolla may be funnel- or bell-shaped, or . The genus name is from the Greek for "flax flower", since the flowers superficially resemble those of

flax Flax, also known as common flax or linseed, is a flowering plant, ''Linum usitatissimum'', in the family Linaceae. It is cultivated as a food and fiber crop in regions of the world with temperate climates. In 2022, France produced 75% of t ...

. The genus has recently been split, with many of the species formerly included now transferred to the genus ''

Leptosiphon ''Leptosiphon'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Polemoniaceae family. Many included species were formerly classified as members of the genus ''Linanthus''. Some species of this genus are grown as ornamental plants. Species 32 species are ...

'' (

Jepson Manual ''The Jepson Manual'' is a flora of the vascular plants that are either native to or naturalized in California. Botanists often refer to the book simply as ''Jepson''. It is produced by the University and Jepson Herbaria, of the University of Cal ...

Species

26 species are accepted. * ''

Linanthus arenicola ''Linanthus'' is a genus of annual plant, annual and perennial plants in the phlox family Polemoniaceae. The species are found in western North America and in Chile, with the greatest diversity in California. The stems are erect, with multiple b ...

'' * '' Linanthus bellus'' * '' Linanthus bernardinus'' * '' Linanthus bigelovii'' * '' Linanthus caespitosus'' * '' Linanthus californicus'' * '' Linanthus campanulatus'' * '' Linanthus concinnus'' * ''

Linanthus demissus ''Linanthus demissus'' (humble gilia or desertsnow) is a small flowering plant found in the Mojave Desert of the southwestern United States, from southeastern California east to Arizona and southern Utah. Description It is an annual plant with d ...

'' * '' Linanthus dianthiflorus'' * '' Linanthus dichotomus'' * '' Linanthus filiformis'' * '' Linanthus glaber'' * '' Linanthus graciosus'' * '' Linanthus inyoensis'' * '' Linanthus jaegeri'' * '' Linanthus jonesii'' * '' Linanthus killipii'' * '' Linanthus maricopensis'' * '' Linanthus orcuttii'' * '' Linanthus parryae'' * '' Linanthus pungens'' * '' Linanthus veatchii'' * '' Linanthus viscainensis'' * '' Linanthus watsonii''

Formerly placed here

* '' Leptosiphon acicularis'' (as ''Linanthus acicularis'' ) * '' Leptosiphon ambiguus'' (as ''Linanthus ambiguus'' ) * ''

Leptosiphon androsaceus ''Leptosiphon androsaceus'' ( syn. ''Linanthus androsaceus'') is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name of false babystars. It is an annual herb that is endemic to California. Distribution and habitat The plan ...

'' (as ''Linanthus androsaceus'' ) * '' Leptosiphon bicolor'' (as ''Linanthus bicolor'' ) * '' Leptosiphon bolanderi'' (as ''Linanthus bolanderi'' ) * '' Leptosiphon breviculus'' (as ''Linanthus breviculus'' ) * '' Leptosiphon ciliatus'' (as ''Linanthus ciliatus'' ) * ''

Leptosiphon filipes ''Leptosiphon filipes'' ( syn. ''Linanthus filipes'') is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name thread linanthus. Distribution It is endemic to California, primarily in the foothills of the western Sierra Neva ...

'' (as ''Linanthus filipes'' ) * ''

Leptosiphon floribundus ''Leptosiphon'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Polemoniaceae family. Many included species were formerly classified as members of the genus '' Linanthus''. Some species of this genus are grown as ornamental plants. Species 32 species are ...

'' (as ''Linanthus floribundus'' ) * '' Leptosiphon grandiflorus'' (as ''Linanthus grandiflorus'' ) * '' Leptosiphon harknessii'' (as ''Linanthus harknessii'' ) * ''

Leptosiphon lemmonii ''Leptosiphon lemmonii'' ( syn. ''Linanthus lemmonii'') is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name Lemmon's linanthus. ''Leptosiphon lemmonii'' is native to the San Bernardino Mountains and the Peninsular Range ...

'' (as ''Linanthus lemmonii'' ) * ''

Leptosiphon liniflorus ''Leptosiphon liniflorus'' is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name narrowflower flaxflower. It is native to the western United States from Washington and Idaho, through Oregon and Nevada, and across Californ ...

'' (as ''Linanthus liniflorus'' ) * ''

Leptosiphon montanus ''Leptosiphon montanus'' (synonym ''Linanthus montanus'') is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family, known by the common name "mustang clover". Distribution It is endemic to California and grows in dry openings within oak woodland hab ...

'' (as ''Linanthus montanus'' ) * ''

Leptosiphon nudatus ''Leptosiphon nudatus'' ( syn. ''Linanthus nudatus'') is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name Tehachapi linanthus. Distribution It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the Tehachapi Mountain ...

'' (as ''Linanthus nudatus'' ) * ''

Leptosiphon nuttallii ''Leptosiphon nuttallii'' is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name Nuttall's linanthus. It is native to much of western North America, including the Western United States from California to New Mexico and Mon ...

'' (as ''Linanthus nuttallii'' ) * '' Leptosiphon oblanceolatus'' (as ''Linanthus oblanceolatus'' ) * '' Leptosiphon pachyphyllus'' (as ''Linanthus pachyphyllus'' ) * '' Leptosiphon parviflorus'' (as ''Linanthus parviflorus'' ) * '' Leptosiphon pygmaeus'' (as ''Linanthus pygmaeus'' ) * '' Leptosiphon rattanii'' (as ''Linanthus rattanii'' ) * '' Leptosiphon septentrionalis'' (as ''Linanthus septentrionalis'' ) * '' Leptosiphon serrulatus'' (as ''Linanthus serrulatus'' ) * '' Maculigilia maculata'' (as ''Linanthus maculatus'' )

References

Jepson Manual: ''Linanthus''
*Robert W. Patterson (1977) '' Madroño'' 24: 36–48 Polemoniaceae genera Flora of Northern America Taxa named by George Bentham {{Polemoniaceae-stub