Linum L.
L. trisepalum Kellogg. [[Fig. 10.]]
Fig. 10.
Stem suffruticose; base flexuous, smooth, cinnamon brown, numerously branched above; branches green, slender, erect, subsimple, stellate pubescent from minute scabrous elevations, and also simply short pubescent; plant sub-triangular throughout. Leaves erect, sub-appressed, small, linear, obtuse, slightly narrowed at the base into a very short petiole, alternate. Flowers small, yellow, in sub-terminal racemoid panicles; pedicels as long, or twice the length of the flowers; calyx bi-bracteate (appendaged?); bracts minute (about half the length of the sepals), linear, foliaceous (rudimentary sepals); proper sepals three, nerveless, ovate, acute (or sub-acute), imbricated margins glabrous, as long as the capsule. Petals obovate, sub-cuneate, scarcely twice the length of the sepals; stamens ten (yellow), shorter than the calyx; styles one, short; stigmas three, or united the entire length; capsule spheroid obtuse, sub-triangular, three-valved, each valve two-seeded, false dissepiment incomplete.
A small shrubby species, six inches to [Transcriber’s Note: the second measurement was omitted] in height, found by Mr. Bolander on the White Hills back of Oakland.
P.S.—From the ripe fruit since obtained, the capsule is more ovate; separating invariably into three valves, only two to three ovules attaining to maturity; the seeds black, sub-compressed ovate, plano-convex or with two plain sides, the third convex, surface rough.
L. decurrens Kellogg. [[Fig. 11.]]
