Linum mexicanum Kunth

Cathartolinum mexicanum (H.B.K.) Small
Linum mexicanum H.B.K. Nov. Gen. & Sp. 7: 39. 1824.
Perennial, glabrous or nearly so, bright-green, the stems solitary or sparingly tufted, 8-12 dm. tall, striate, or somewhat angled near the top, often purplish, paniculate above, the branches ascending, the cymules ultimately open ; leaves alternate, or opposite on the lower part of the stem, erect or ascending, the blades thickish, lanceolate or oblong, 1-3 cm. long, acute or abruptly pointed, entire, scarcely paler beneath than above, sessile ; bracts similar to the leaves but smaller, not glandular-toothed, but usually ciliate ; outer sepals ovate or oblong-ovate, acute, entire or nearly so, or with 1 or 2 basal teeth ; inner sepals broadly ovate or somewhat obovate, 3-3.5 mm. long, rather abruptly pointed, erose or sparingly glandular-toothed ; petals yellow ; filaments subulate, glabrous ; staminodia subulate, often inequilateral; styles united to above the middle; capsules ovoid, about 3 mm. long, surpassing the sepals.
Type locality : Santa Rosa, Mexico. Distribution : Mexico.