Scientific Family
Linaceae
Synonyms
Cathartolinum puberulum, Linum rigidum Pursh var. puberulum, Mesynium puberulum
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
To 8 inches
Riparian
No
Yellow to orange 5-petaled flowers are loosely clustered at the top of wiry stems. Gray-green narrow leaves are at intervals along the stem. The latin "puber" means downy and refers to the downy-haired character of the plant.
Stems ascending to spreading, branching from the base, densely covered with small soft hairs; leaves alternate and ascending; blades linear to linear-lanceolate; stems covered with soft hairs; yellow to orange flowers.
Habitat
Dry, open habitat including desert, mesas and low mountains.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
3500
High elevation
6500
Flower Characteristics
Yellow to orange 5-petaled flowers have reddish and white inner rings. Flowers are to 2 inches wide and are loosely clustered at the top of slender stems.
Flower color
Yellow to orange
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are narrow and grasslike to 1 inch long along a slender stem, margins can be smooth or toothed.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Ovoid, splits into 5 segments at maturity.
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit color
Brown