''Hesperolinon'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

in the family Linaceae, whose common genus names are dwarf-flax or western flax, in reference to their distribution along the west coast of North America. There are 13 known species within this genus of

wildflower A wildflower (or wild flower) is a flower that grows in the wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. The term implies that the plant probably is neither a hybrid nor a selected cultivar that is in any way different from the ...

s, most of which are limited to serpentine soil

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

s within

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

, United States. Helen K. Sharsmith, 1961 ''Univ Calif Publ Bot'', 32:235–314 These annual plants are thought to be mostly self-pollinating.

Description

Stems vary between five and fifty centimeters in length, with thread-like to linear leaves generally alternate: the leaves are typically not planar and not clasping. Cymes are characteristically open and

pedicel Pedicle or pedicel may refer to: Human anatomy *Pedicle of vertebral arch, the segment between the transverse process and the vertebral body, and is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures ...

s are somewhat thread-like and ascending. The

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

has five

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coine ...

s, whose margins may be minutely gland-toothed. Five petals are widely spreading between one and twelve millimeters in dimension. These yellow, white or rose colored petals each manifest three minute scales at the inner base. There are five stamens and four to six ovary chambers; styles number two to three.

Fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particu ...

s have a smooth surface exterior.

Species

*'' Hesperolinon adenophyllum'' - glandular western flax *'' Hesperolinon bicarpellatum'' - bicarpellate western flax *'' Hesperolinon breweri'' - Brewer's western flax *'' Hesperolinon californicum'' - California western flax *''

Hesperolinon clevelandii ''Hesperolinon'' is a genus in the family Linaceae, whose common genus names are dwarf-flax or western flax, in reference to their distribution along the west coast of North America. There are 13 known species within this genus of wildflowers, ...

'' - Allen Springs dwarf flax *''

Hesperolinon congestum ''Hesperolinon congestum'', or Marin dwarf flax, is an annual herb, which is known to occur only in San Mateo, San Francisco and Marin County, California, United States. This plant occurs chiefly on serpentine soils, especially in dry nati ...

'' - Marin western flax *''

Hesperolinon didymocarpum ''Hesperolinon'' is a genus in the family Linaceae, whose common genus names are dwarf-flax or western flax, in reference to their distribution along the west coast of North America. There are 13 known species within this genus of wildflowers, ...

'' - Lake County western flax *'' Hesperolinon disjunctum'' - Coast Range western flax *'' Hesperolinon drymarioides'' - drymary western flax *'' Hesperolinon micranthum'' - smallflower western flax *'' Hesperolinon serpentinum'' *''

Hesperolinon sharsmithiae ''Hesperolinon'' is a genus in the family Linaceae, whose common genus names are dwarf-flax or western flax, in reference to their distribution along the west coast of North America. There are 13 known species within this genus of wildflowers, ...

'' - Sharsmith's western flax *''

Hesperolinon spergulinum ''Hesperolinon'' is a genus in the family Linaceae, whose common genus names are dwarf-flax or western flax, in reference to their distribution along the west coast of North America. There are 13 known species within this genus of wildflowers, ...

'' - slender western flax *'' Hesperolinon tehamense'' - Paskenta Grade western flax, Tehama western flax

References

External links

Jepson Manual Treatment
Malpighiales genera Flora of California {{Malpighiales-stub