Descriptive Flora 



113 



in center. Leaves simple, alternate. Blades narrowly lanceolate, 

 1 inch or less long, closely appressed to the stems, one main vein 

 at base and two fainter ones running parallel close to the margin. 

 Petals 5, yellow with orange-red base on the inner side, delicate 

 and falling off at the least disturbance. Stamens 5. Fruit a 

 small, 5-celled ovoid pod. March to June. Widespread. 



Linum multicdule Hook. Dwarf Flax. 



(Cathartolinum multicaule Hook.) 



Similar to Yellow Flax given above but not as tall (4 to 8"), 

 leaves smaller (about y± long), and more numerous and more 

 closely appressed to and crowded along the stem. Flowers about 

 %" across. April and May. Not common. 



Linum rupestre Engelm. Tall Flax. 



(Cathartolinum rupestre [Engelm.] Small.) 



Pale, slender, swaying, wand-like stems, tufted at the woody 

 root and bearing loose clusters of small, fragile, pale yellow, 5- 

 petaled flowers. Leaves simple, alternate or scattered. Blades 

 small, linear, less than 1 inch long, closely appressed to the stems, 

 and falling early. Flowers about 14" across. April to July. In 

 dry, limestone soil, frequently rooted in crevices of flat lime- 

 stone rocks and boulders. Related to Linum usitatissimum, an 

 annual with deep blue flowers which furnishes the world with 

 linen from its fibre and linseed oil from its seeds. 



OXALIDACEAE. Wood-Sorrel Family. 



Oxalis drummondii A. Gray. Violet Wood-sorrel. Sour Grass. 



Oxalis vespertilionis I. & G. 



(Ionoxalis drummondii [A. Gray] Rose). 



Low stemless herbs with flower and leaf stalks coming 

 directly out of the ground. Leaflets 3, sour, deeply notched at 

 apex and broader than long, strongly resembling the Shamrock 

 of the ancient Irish. Flowers rose to purple, open bell-shaped, 

 about 1 inch across, several (ten or less), at the end of slender, 



