Linum trigynum L.

Spice In the field

Family: LINACEAE

Genus: Linum

Catalan common name: Llinet gàl·lic.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Therophytic calicole fields. Therophytic silicolous fields. Therophytics communities.

Characteristics: A small, erect plant living in meadows between the bushes in garrigues (Mediterranean woodland) and pinewoods, preferentially on soils without carbonates. It has almost linear leaves; the whole plant is very slender and tender, smooth to the touch, unlike Linum strictum which is a bit rough. The flowers are golden yellow, small at the top of the stems. It can be mistaken for Linum strictum, but this species has flowers with a lighter colour, and the plant is more rigid and compact. It flowers in spring.