''Linum alpinum'' is a species of
perennial plant belonging to the
Linaceae
Linaceae is a family of flowering plants. The family is cosmopolitan, and includes about 250 species in 14 genera, classified into two subfamilies: the Linoideae and Hugonioideae (often recognized as a distinct family, the Hugoniaceae). Leaves of ...
family.
Etymology
The Latin genus name ''Linum'' means ''thread'', where as the species name ''alpinum'' means ''from the Alps''.
Subspecies
Subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
include:
*''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''alpinum''
Jacq., 1762
*''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''bertolonii''
Guarino & Pignatti
*''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''collinum''
(Guss. ex Boiss.) J.-M.Tison
*''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''gracilius''
(Bertol.) Pignatti
*''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''julicum''
(Hayek) Hegi
*''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''laeve''
(Scop.) Nyman
*''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''pirinicum''
A. Petrova
Distribution and habitat
This
orophyte species occurs in central and southern
Europe and western Asia, in rocky lawns, limestone hills and mountains of
Pyrenees,
Alps,
Apennines
The Apennines or Apennine Mountains (; grc-gre, links=no, Ἀπέννινα ὄρη or Ἀπέννινον ὄρος; la, Appenninus or – a singular with plural meaning;''Apenninus'' (Greek or ) has the form of an adjective, which wou ...
,
Rhodope Mountains
The Rhodopes (; bg, Родопи, ; el, Ροδόπη, ''Rodopi''; tr, Rodoplar) are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, and the largest by area in Bulgaria, with over 83% of its area in the southern part of the country and the remainder in ...
and
Urals, at an elevation of above sea level.
[Tela Botanica]
Description
''Linum alpinum'' has stems erect or recumbent, densely leafed, reaching an average of in height. This plant is glabrous and woody at the base. It has alternate leaves that are linear-lanceolate, up to long, and sessile. The hermaphrodite, rather large flowers with radial symmetry are blue, yellow at the bottom, with a diameter of and with erect or slightly inclined
pedicels
In botany, a pedicel is a stem that attaches a single flower to the inflorescence. Such inflorescences are described as ''pedicellate''.
Description
Pedicel refers to a structure connecting a single flower to its inflorescence. In the absenc ...
, in loose clusters each containing one to eight flowers. Sepals are unequal, with three veins at the base, 5–7 mm long. The petals are 12–20 mm long, three-four times longer than sepals. The fruits are capsules 6–8 mm long. Each fruit compartment contains a blackish seed.
[Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. II, pag. 20 ] This species is quite similar to '' Linum leonii'' and '' Linum ockendonii''.Info Flora
Biology
This perennial plant blooms from May to August.
[ The flowers are bent before flowering, where as floral peduncles remain erect after flowering. Typical pollinators are insects (bees, bumblebees, wasps, hoverflies, etc.).
]
Gallery
File:Lin en Vanoise 73.JPG, Plant of ''Linum alpinum''
File: Linaceae - Linum alpinum subsp. julicum.JPG, Close-up on a flower of ''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''julicum''
File:Linum alpinum sl7.jpg, Fruit with seeds
File:Atlas der Alpenflora (Plate 111) (6312027130).jpg, Illustration from Atlas der Alpenflora (1882)
References
* Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C., 2005 - An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora - Palombi Editori
External links
Flore Alpes
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2650775
alpinum
Flora of Europe
Plants described in 1762
Taxa named by Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin