Flower Side, Petals Removed

9 Miles North of Wynward on # 640
30-June-2006

Note the petals have been removed from this flower, exposing the imbricate sepals, stamens, and styles.

Budd's Flora separates L. lewisii from L. pratense by stating the following about L. lewisii:

	sepals more than 5 mm long when mature
	sepals more than half as long as capsule

Flora of the Great Plains separates them by stating the following about L. lewisii:

	perennial
	petals 10-15 mm long; NOT [petals 5-10 mm long]

The sepals of this specimen are 5 mm or less and the petals are about 10 mm long, which might indicate that it is L. pratense.  However, Flora of the Great Plains states the following about the length of the styles:

	L. lewisii: 4-9 mm long
	L. pratense: 1-3 mm long

The styles of this specimen are about 7 mm long.  Therefore, I have concluded this is L. lewisii.

Lewisii:  Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  and Flora of Alberta leading to this species.   perennial; NOT annual leaves linear; NOT [leaves lanceolate or linear lanceolate] pedicels arching and spreading; NOT [pedicels erect] sepals more than 5 mm long when mature sepals more than half as long as capsule sepals blunt to short-acuminate; NOT [sepals long-acuminate] inner sepals WITHOUT marginal glands inner sepals NOT ciliate flowers blue; NOT yellow stigmas introrse; NOT [stigmas terminal and capitate] fruiting stalks 1-4 cm long; NOT [fruiting stalks 0.5-1 cm long]

 

Linaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family.  herbs plants terrestrial or semi-aquatic; NOT [plants aquatic, leaves submerged or floating] plants NOT with colored milky juice plants with more than one normal leaf NOT fleshy-leaved plants some or all leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite, whorled, or basal] leaves without stipules, or having glands flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others calyx regular sepals 5 none of the sepals spurred none of the petals spurred stamens 5 stamens united at base ovary superior; NOT inferior carpels 5 fruit a capsule fruit NOT explosive