wild blue flax

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Lewis' blue flax
• Lewis' flax
• Lewis' wild blue flax
• Lewis' wild flax
• wild blue flax
• Lewis's flax
• Blue Flax
• Lewis flax
• Western Blue Flax
• lewis blue flax

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Adenolinum lewisii
• Linum perenne subsp. lewisii
• Linum perenne var. lewisii
• Linum sibiricum var. lewisii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales, falling into the family Linaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Linum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across the northern regions of North America. Within Subarctic America, it can be found spanning from Alaska to the Yukon territory. Its presence also extends into the eastern reaches of the Subarctic, specifically within Nunavut. Furthermore, the species is documented throughout the Northwest Territories. Finally, its range reaches southward into the western portion of Canada, specifically in Alberta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Linum lewisii is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a perennial, the plant undergoes recurring cycles of vegetative growth and reproductive development, often establishing a stable presence within its ecological niche. Throughout its lifecycle, it may exhibit variable growth patterns depending on environmental conditions, though its fundamental strategy relies on the ability to survive through unfavorable periods to bloom again in subsequent years. This perennial nature enables the plant to invest resources into robust root systems and long-term survival, facilitating repeated flowering events that contribute to its continued propagation and presence in the landscape.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Linum lewisii is characterized by a growth form consistent with a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This plant is a terrestrial species, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, it is a self-supporting plant, exhibiting neither liana nor vine-like climbing tendencies. It typically reaches a mean plant height of approximately 0.76 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.76 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Linum lewisii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism in which carbon fixation occurs via the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO within the mesophyll cells. This metabolic process relies on the standard Calvin cycle to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic sugars, a strategy typical of many temperate herbaceous species. Because it utilizes the C3 pathway, the plant's physiological efficiency is highly dependent on environmental conditions such as light intensity, temperature, and moisture availability, as it lacks the specialized CO2-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM plants. Consequently, its metabolic rate and water-use efficiency are closely tied to its ability to manage photorespiration and maintain gas exchange through its stomata under varying ecological pressures.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Linum lewisii is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit specific variations in weight, which is a critical factor in its dispersal and germination potential. The seed mass within a population shows a notable range, with a recorded minimum mass of 0.001075 g and a maximum mass of 0.00328 g. On average, the seeds possess a mean mass of 0.002151375 g. This variation in seed size suggests a level of phenotypic plasticity or environmental influence that may affect the reproductive success and seedling establishment of the species in its natural habitat.

Seed mass max:

0.00328 g

Seed mass mean:

0.002151375 g

Seed mass min:

0.001075 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Linum lewisii has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Life sciences

Activities

Linum lewisii has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Life sciences

Conditions

Linum lewisii has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include arthritis, asthma, fever, headaches, heart disorders.

Arthritis

1. Life sciences

Asthma

1. Life sciences

Fever

1. Life sciences

Headaches

1. Life sciences

Heart disorders

1. Life sciences

Infections

1. Life sciences

Menstrual pain

1. Life sciences