The World Flora Online

SELECTED REFERENCES McDill, J. R. 2009. Molecular Phylogenetic Studies in the Linaceae and Linum, with Implications for Their Systematics and Historical Biogeography. Ph.D. dissertation. University of Texas. McDill, J. R. et al. 2009. The phylogeny of Linum and Linaceae subfamily Linoideae, with implications for their systematics, biogeography, and evolution of heterostyly. Syst. Bot. 34: 386–405. McDill, J. R. and B. B. Simpson. 2011. Molecular phylogenetics of Linaceae with complete generic sampling and data from two plastid genes. Bot. J. Linn Soc. 165: 64–83. Rogers, C. M. 1975. Relationships of Hesperolinon and Linum (Linaceae). Madroño 23: 153–159. Rogers, C. M. 1984. Linaceae. In: N. L. Britton et al., eds. 1905+. North American Flora.... 47+ vols. New York. Ser. 2, part 12, pp. 1–54.

Herbs or subshrubs [shrubs, trees, vines], annual, biennial, or perennial. Leaves alternate, opposite, or whorled, simple; stipules absent or present as small, dark, spheric glands; petiole usually absent, rarely present; blade margins entire, serrate, or denticulate; venation pinnate. Inflorescences terminal, racemes, panicles, or cymes (rarely thyrses or corymbs in Linum) [spikes]. Flowers bisexual; perianth and androecium hypogynous; hypanthium absent; sepals 4–5, connate basally [distinct]; petals 4–5, distinct or coherent basally, imbricate or convolute, bases sometimes with appendages; nectary extrastaminal; stamens 4–5 [10], connate basally, filament tube and petal bases adherent or adnate [free]; anthers dehiscing by longitudinal slits; pistil 1, 2–5-carpellate, ovary superior, 4–5-locular, placentation axile or apical-axile; ovules 2 per locule, anatropous; styles 2–5, distinct or partly connate; stigmas 2–5. Fruits capsules, dehiscence septicidal, or indehiscent or schizocarps breaking into 4 nutlets (Sclerolinon). Seeds 2 per locule, seed coat often mucilaginous.

Arbres, arbrisseaux, herbes ou lianes pourvues de crochets vêtus de poils simples. Feuilles alternes ou opposées, simples, penninerves ou 1-nerves. Stipules extrapétiolaires, entières ou non, caduques, rarement absentes. Fleurs groupées en cymes terminales ou axillaires, rarement fleurs solitaires, actinomorphes, bisexuées, généralement hétérostylées. Sépales 5 (4), imbriqués, libres ou partiellement soudés à la base. Pétales 5 (4), contortés, libres, rarement unis à la base. Étamines 10, rarement 15, parfois 5 par réduction; filets ± soudés à la base; anthères introrses, dorsifixes, à déhiscence longitudinale. Ovaire supère, à 2-5 loges parfois subdivisées par des cloisons ± complètes; ovules 2 par loge, collatéraux, pendants; styles libres ou soudés à la base; stigmates terminaux, capités ou disciformes. Capsules ou drupes polyspermes. Graines ± comprimées, arillées ou non, albuminées ou exalbuminées; embryons droits ou légèrement recourbés, cotylédons plats.

Arbres'ou arbustes parfois lianeux, quelquefois munis de crochets ou herbes vivaces ou annuelles.'Feuilles'simples, alternes, rarement opposées, généralement penninervées; stipules extrapétiolaires, parfois glanduliformes, ou nulles.'Inflorescences'axillaires ou terminales, en cymes, corymbes, épis, panicules ou fascicules, rarement fleurs solitaires; bractées souvent présentes.'Fleurs'☿, régulières, assez souvent hétérostylées; calice à (4) 5 sépales imbriqués, persistants, rarement caducs; corolle à (4) 5 pétales libres, généralement tordus dans le bouton ou imbriqués, souvent ± onguiculés, persistants ou caducs, parfois pourvus d'appendices liguliformes; androcée à 5-∞ étamines en 1 ou plusieurs verticilles, toutes fertiles ou certaines staminodiales, exceptionnellement moins de 5 étamines; filets ± connés en tube à la base, rarement soudés extérieurement ou intérieurement à un disque annulaire; anthères dorsifixes, introrses, à déhiscence longitudinale; connectif parfois épais et ovale; ovaire supère, à 2-5 loges parfois subdivisées par des fausses cloisons ± complètes; ovules 2 par loge, collatéraux rarement superposés; styles en même nombre que les loges, libres ou ± soudés; stigmates terminaux, subcapités ou disciformes.'Fruits': capsules septicides souvent avec fausses cloisons ou drupes.'Graines ± comprimées, à arille ± développé ou nul, rarement ailées, albuminées ou exalbuminées.\n\t\t\tFamille des régions tropicales et tempérées, comptant environ 25 genres et 500 espèces; au Congo belge, 4 genres, 15 espèces, 5 variétés et 1 forme. Vu l'hétérogenéité de cette famille, des auteurs récents ont donné aux sous-familles de Winkler (l.c.) le rang de familles. Dans l'état actuel de nos connaissances, nous ne possédons cependant pas de données suffisantes pour justifier un tel démembrement. Aussi, nous avons maintenu le système de Winkler. Toutefois, en nous basant principalement sur le nombre d'ovules par loge, nous avons transféré des'Erythroxylaceae'aux'Linaceae'le genre'Aneulophus'Benth. à 2 ovules par loge et des'Linaceae'aux'Erythroxylaceae'le genre'Nectaropetalum Engl. à 1 ovule par loge.

Seeds compressed, shining, with or without endosperm; embryo straight, cotyledons flat Sepals 4–5, free or partly united, imbricate Flowers actinomorphic, hermaphrodite Leaves simple, alternate or opposite; stipules present or absent, sometimes gland-like Trees, shrubs, rarely herbs; branches sometimes climbing by hooks Fruit a septicidal capsule Ovary superior, 3–5-celled, cells often again partially subdivided; ovules 2 in each cell, pendulous; styles 3–5, free or partly united, with simple capitate stigmas Stamens as many as and alternate with the petals, sometimes alternating with small staminodes; filaments connate at base; anthers introrse, 2-celled, opening lengthwise Petals free, contorted, fugacious Sepals 4–5, free or partly united, imbricate Flowers actinomorphic, hermaphrodite Leaves simple, alternate or opposite; stipules present or absent, sometimes gland-like Trees, shrubs, rarely herbs; branches sometimes climbing by hooks Fruit a septicidal capsule Ovary superior, 3–5-celled, cells often again partially subdivided; ovules 2 in each cell, pendulous; styles 3–5, free or partly united, with simple capitate stigmas Stamens as many as and alternate with the petals, sometimes alternating with small staminodes; filaments connate at base; anthers introrse, 2-celled, opening lengthwise Petals free, contorted, fugacious

Petals (4) 5, contorted in bud, free or very rarely united at the base, often unguiculate, fugacious Stamens twice (rarely three times) as many as the petals, or with the antipetalous whorl staminodial or absent; filaments ± united in the lower part, sometimes glandular at the base; anthers introrse, dorsifixed, dehiscing longitudinally Ovary superior, with 2–5 2-ovulate loculi sometimes subdivided nearly to the placentae or alternating with an equal number of empty loculi; ovules collateral, pendulous; styles free or united at the base, slender, with simple capitate or clavate stigmas Fruit a capsule dehiscing septicidally into (4) 5 2-seeded valves, or septicidally and loculicidally into (8) 10 1-seeded valves, or a drupe usually with fewer seeds than the 2–5 originally fertile loculi Seeds ± compressed, shining, exarillate, with or without endosperm; embryo straight or slightly curved, with flat cotyledons Trees, shrubs, lianes or herbs, often with tendrils on climbing shoots, glabrous or with an indumentum of simple hairs Leaves alternate or opposite, simple, penninerved or 1-nerved; stipules divided or entire or gland-like, deciduous (rarely absent) Flowers in terminal or axillary cymes (or rarely solitary), actinomorphic, bisexual, usually heterostylic Sepals (4) 5, imbricate, free or partially united Stamens twice (rarely three times) as many as the petals, or with the antipetalous whorl staminodial or absent; filaments ± united in the lower part, sometimes glandular at the base; anthers introrse, dorsifixed, dehiscing longitudinally Ovary superior, with 2–5 2-ovulate loculi sometimes subdivided nearly to the placentae or alternating with an equal number of empty loculi; ovules collateral, pendulous; styles free or united at the base, slender, with simple capitate or clavate stigmas Fruit a capsule dehiscing septicidally into (4) 5 2-seeded valves, or septicidally and loculicidally into (8) 10 1-seeded valves, or a drupe usually with fewer seeds than the 2–5 originally fertile loculi Seeds ± compressed, shining, exarillate, with or without endosperm; embryo straight or slightly curved, with flat cotyledons Trees, shrubs, lianes or herbs, often with tendrils on climbing shoots, glabrous or with an indumentum of simple hairs Leaves alternate or opposite, simple, penninerved or 1-nerved; stipules divided or entire or gland-like, deciduous (rarely absent) Flowers in terminal or axillary cymes (or rarely solitary), actinomorphic, bisexual, usually heterostylic Sepals (4) 5, imbricate, free or partially united

Fls regular, hypogynous, perfect, (4)5-merous; sep imbricate, distinct or nearly so; pet convolute, distinct, clawed, usually caducous; small nectary-glands commonly present external to the stamens; stamens as many as and alternate with the pet, sometimes alternating also with filamentous or tooth-like staminodes; filaments expanded below and connate into a tube; carpels (2)3–5, united to form a compound, plurilocular ovary; styles distinct or connate below; ovules 2 in each primary locule, apical-axile, pendulous, collateral, commonly separated by an often incomplete "false" septum; fr a septicidal capsule; seeds with a straight, dicotyledonous embryo and scanty endosperm; mostly (incl. all our spp.) herbs, with simple, entire, typically narrow and sessile lvs and basically cymose infls. 6/220, cosmop.

Herbs or shrubs. Stipules small or absent. Leaves alternate or rarely opposite, simple; leaf blade margin entire. Inflorescences cymes or racemes. Flowers bisexual, regular. Sepals (4 or)5, distinct or basally connate, imbricate, persistent. Petals as many as and alternate with sepals, distinct or basally connate, convolute, basally often clawed, with 2-5 extrastaminal nectary glands or a disk. Stamens (4 or)5 or 10(or 15), in 1 whorl, alternate or opposite sepals, often some reduced to staminodes; filament bases connate into a tube. Ovary superior, with 2-5 carpels or seemingly 4-10-loculed by intrusion of a false septum, with 1 or 2 ovules per locule, placentation axile; styles as many as carpels, filiform, distinct or basally connate; stigmas subcapitate. Fruit usually a septicidal capsule or a drupe. Seeds with straight oily embryo and thin endosperm.

Styles 2–5, free or united at base Fruit a capsule or drupe Seeds with or without endosperm; embryo straight or slightly curved Ovules pendulous, 2 per loculus Ovary superior, 2–5-locular; each loculus often subdivided by a false septum Trees, shrubs, lianes or herbs Leaves simple, alternate or opposite; stipules present, rarely absent, divided, entire or gland-like Sepals 4–5, imbricate, free or partially united Petals 4–5, contorted in bud, free or partially united at base, often clawed Inflorescence a terminal or axillary cyme, rarely flowers solitary Flowers regular, hermaphrodite, hypogynous Stamens 1–3 times as many as sepals; filaments united at base; staminodes sometimes present Fruit a capsule or drupe Seeds with or without endosperm; embryo straight or slightly curved Ovules pendulous, 2 per loculus Ovary superior, 2–5-locular; each loculus often subdivided by a false septum Trees, shrubs, lianes or herbs Leaves simple, alternate or opposite; stipules present, rarely absent, divided, entire or gland-like Sepals 4–5, imbricate, free or partially united Petals 4–5, contorted in bud, free or partially united at base, often clawed Inflorescence a terminal or axillary cyme, rarely flowers solitary Flowers regular, hermaphrodite, hypogynous Stamens 1–3 times as many as sepals; filaments united at base; staminodes sometimes present