''Linum campanulatum'' is a

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

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. Description The leaves of the Linaceae are always simple; arran ...

family.

Description

''Linum campanulatum'' reaches on average in height.Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. II, pag. 22 The short stem is

, woody and glabrous, with long

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of ...

annual branches. Leaves are alternate, up to 4 cm long and 1 cm wide. The shape of lower cauline leaves is quite variable. Usually they are obovate-obtuse, but in some cases may be spatulate-lanceolate. The upper cauline leaves are gradually reduced in width to become almost linear. The inflorescence has 3-5 campanulate actinomorphic flowers, about in diameter, with five free sepals and five free petals. Petals are yellow, oblong-oval, 2.5-3.5 cm long. The flowering period extends from May through June. The flowers are

hermaphrodite A hermaphrodite () is a sexually reproducing organism that produces both male and female gametes. Animal species in which individuals are either male or female are gonochoric, which is the opposite of hermaphroditic. The individuals of many ...

and pollinated by insects (

entomophily Entomophily or insect pollination is a form of pollination whereby pollen of plants, especially but not only of flowering plants, is distributed by insects. Flowers pollinated by insects typically advertise themselves with bright colours, some ...

). Fruit is a capsule with ten compartments, each containing one seed.

Distribution

This plant is widespread in the western Mediterranean, from Spain to northwestern Italy.

Habitat

It prefers rocky places containing

serpentinite Serpentinite is a metamorphic rock composed predominantly of serpentine group minerals formed by serpentinization of mafic or ultramafic rocks. The ancient origin of the name is uncertain; it may be from the similarity of its texture or color ...

s, at an altitude of above sea level.

References

* Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C., 2005 - An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora - Palombi Editori

External links

Biolib

''Linum campanulatum''
campanulatum Flora of Europe Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus {{Malpighiales-stub