Linum lewisii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Linum lewisii |
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| In Elena Gallegos Picnic Area, Albuquerque, NM | |
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Linum
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| Species: |
lewisii
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Linum lewisii (Linum perenne var. lewisii) (Lewis flax, blue flax or prairie flax) is a perennial plant in the family Linaceae, native to western North America from Alaska south to Baja California, and from the Pacific Coast east to the Mississippi River (USDA Plant Profile: Linum lewisii). It grows on ridges and dry slopes, from sea level in the north up to 11,000 ft (3,400 m) in the Sierra Nevada.
The plant was named for North American explorer Meriwether Lewis.
It is a slender herbaceous plant growing to 80 cm tall, with spirally arranged narrow lanceolate leaves 1–2 cm long. The flowers are pale blue or lavender to white, often veined in darker blue, with five petals 1–1.5 cm long.
Cultivation
Linum lewisii is extremely durable, even aggressive, in favorable conditions, successfully seeding even into established lawns.
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The inflorescence is a terminal open racime.
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Flowers are pale blue or lavender to white, often veined in darker blue, with varying-length styles.
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Leaves are lanceolate, spirally arranged, 10–30 mm (0.4–1 in) long.
Uses
According to Melvin R. Gilmore, the seeds were gathered by Native Americans and cooked for their flavor and nutritious quality.
Some Native Americans used the fibers to make cordage.
