Flora of New Zealand Series

false flax

Erect annual herb. Stems 30-40-(60) cm tall, with sparse to quite dense stellate hairs mixed with a few simple hairs, becoming glabrous above. Lower lvs clothed in stellate hairs, usually with a few simple hairs as well, narrowly obovate to oblanceolate, toothed to sinuate to pinnatifid, 2-7 cm long; upper lvs smaller, sparsely stellate-hairy, narrow-lanceolate, usually entire, auriculate at base. Racemes erect; pedicels spreading, 1.5-2-(2.5) cm long. Sepals 2-3 × 0.5-0.8 mm, with sparse long simple hairs. Petals pale yellow, narrow-spathulate, 3-4 × c. 1 mm. Stamens slightly < petals. Silicles obovoid, truncate or slightly retuse at apex, 7-10 × 6-8 mm; style persistent, 1-3 mm long; valves olive green at maturity. Seeds 2-2.5 mm long.

S.: Canterbury.

Europe 1968

Rare casual in linseed crops.