{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox | name = Alpine Flax | image = Linum alpinum (35407832095).jpg | image_caption = Flowers of ''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''alpinum'' | genus = Linum | species = alpinum | authority = Jacq., 1762 | synonyms_ref = | synonyms = {{species list |Adenolinum alpicola|Rchb. |Adenolinum montanum|Rchb. |Adenolinum pyrenaicum|Rchb. }} }}
'''''Linum alpinum''''', the '''alpine flax''', is a species of perennial plant belonging to the Linaceae family.
==Etymology== The Latin genus name ''Linum'' means ''thread'', where as the species name ''alpinum'' means ''from the Alps''.
==Subspecies== Subspecies include:<ref>[http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/details/species/id/fa988df1ad8f790dc40eaffde8d146ccCatalogue of life]</ref> *''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''alpinum'' <small>Jacq., 1762</small> *''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''bertolonii'' <small>Guarino & Pignatti</small> *''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''collinum'' <small>(Guss. ex Boiss.) J.-M.Tison</small> *''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''gracilius'' <small>(Bertol.) Pignatti</small> *''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''julicum'' <small>(Hayek) Hegi</small> *''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''laeve'' <small>(Scop.) Nyman</small> *''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''pirinicum'' <small>A. Petrova</small>
==Distribution and habitat== This orophyte species occurs in central and southern Europe and western Asia, in rocky lawns, limestone hills and mountains of Pyrenees, Alps, Apennines, Rhodope Mountains and Urals, at an elevation of {{convert|1400|-|2500|m|abbr=on}} above sea level.<ref name = TB>[https://www.tela-botanica.org/bdtfx-nn-39369-synthese Tela Botanica] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
==Description== ''Linum alpinum'' has stems erect or recumbent, densely leafed, reaching an average of {{convert|10|-|50|cm|abbr=on}} in height. This plant is glabrous and woody at the base. It has alternate leaves that are linear-lanceolate, up to {{convert|2.5|cm|abbr=on}} long, and sessile. The hermaphrodite, rather large flowers with radial symmetry are blue, yellow at the bottom, with a diameter of {{convert|2|-|3|cm|abbr=on}} and with erect or slightly inclined pedicels, in loose clusters each containing one to eight flowers. Sepals are unequal, with three veins at the base, 5–7 mm long. The petals are 12–20 mm long, three-four times longer than sepals. The fruits are capsules 6–8 mm long. Each fruit compartment contains a blackish seed.<ref name=TB/><ref name=Pignatti>Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. II, pag. 20 {{in lang|it}}</ref> This species is quite similar to ''Linum leonii'' and ''Linum ockendonii''.<ref>[https://www.infoflora.ch/de/flora/linum-alpinum.html Info Flora] {{in lang|de}}</ref>
==Biology== This perennial plant blooms from May to August.<ref name=TB/> The flowers are bent before flowering, where as floral peduncles remain erect after flowering. Typical pollinators are insects (bees, bumblebees, wasps, hoverflies, etc.).
==Gallery== <gallery widths="240" heights="180"> File:Lin en Vanoise 73.JPG|Plant of ''Linum alpinum'' File: Linaceae - Linum alpinum subsp. julicum.JPG|Close-up on a flower of ''Linum alpinum'' subsp. ''julicum'' File:Linum alpinum sl7.jpg|Fruit with seeds File:Atlas der Alpenflora (Plate 111) (6312027130).jpg|Illustration from Atlas der Alpenflora (1882) </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}} * Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C., 2005 - An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora - Palombi Editori
==External links== {{Commons}} * [https://canope.ac-besancon.fr/flore/Linaceae/especes/linum_alpinum.htm Canope-ac Besancon] * [https://www.florealpes.com/fiche_lindesalpes.php Flore Alpes] * [http://www.gerhard.nitter.de/Steckbriefe/Linum-alpinum.html Photos of ''Linum alpinum alpinum'']
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2650775}}
alpinum Category:Flora of Europe Category:Plants described in 1762 Category:Taxa named by Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin