Linum L.
Herbs or shrubs. Lvs alternate or opposite, entire, sessile, usually exstipulate, sometimes stipules present and then gland-like. Fls solitary or in dichasia or corymbs. Sepals 5, free ± to base. Petals 5, usually white to blue or violet, rarely yellow or red. Stamens 5, united at base, alternating with 5 minute staminodes. Ovary 5-locular; styles 5, usually free, sometimes united almost to stigmas. Capsule often shortly beaked, 5-carpellate, 10-seeded, usually dehiscent, each cell divided by a secondary septum. Seeds compressed, glossy.
Key
Petals (10)-12-18-(20) mm long; sepals (5)-6-10 mm long; capsule indehiscent or subdehiscent, (6)-8-10-(12) mm diam.
c. 230 spp., temperate and subtropical, especially Mediterranean. Native sp. 1, naturalised 4.
Several Linum spp. are heterostylous but none of these are naturalised in N.Z.
