Linum catharticum, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 210-211

36. L. catharticum L. , Sp. Pl. 281 (1753) .

Usually annual, very slender, glabrous, rarely more than 15 cm. Leaves 1 -veined, lower obovate-lanceolate, upper lanceolate. Inflorescence a lax dichasium; flowers nodding in bud, on long slender pedicels. Sepals 2-3 mm, lanceolate, glandular-ciliate. Petals obovate, entire or shallowly emarginate, about twice as long as sepals, white, with a yellow claw. Capsule globose; seeds compressed. 2/i= 16. Europe, northwards to 69° N. in Fennoscandia; mainly on mountains in the south. All except Az Bl Cr Sa Sb Si.

In Fennoscandia, the Alps and the Carpathians more or less perennial variants occur, which may have a slightly woody stock and much-branched stems. It does not seem possible to distinguish such plants sufficiently clearly from the widespread annual plant for them to merit subspecific rank.