Marin Dwarf Flax

Hesperolinon congestum (A. Gray) Small
Linum congestum A. Gray, Proc. Am. Acad. 6: 521. 1865.
Plants 1-3 dm. tall, the stem glaucous, more or less fine-pubescent above the nodes, branched above, the branches often nearly erect, angled, terminating in congested cymules ; leaf-blades narrowly linear, 1-3 cm. long, acute, finely pubescent, entire, involute; bracts similar to the leaves but smaller and more pubescent ; outer sepals lanceolate or oblonglanceolate, becoming 4.5-5 mm. long, acuminate, entire, pubescent all over the outer side, the margins glandless ; inner sepals lanceolate, slightly smaller than the outer ones, similarly pubescent ; petals rose-purple, the basal teeth sharp ; filaments filiform ; capsules ovoid, about 2.5 mm. long, nearly as long as the calyx.
Type locality: Marin County, California. Distribution : Middle California.