Linum usitatissimum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- LY-num yoo-sit-ah-TIS-sih-mum
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Slender, erect, annual herb; leaves simple, alternate, narrow, smooth-margined; flowers pale blue, 5-parted, the petals broad and spreading; fruit a capsule
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Linum
- Species:
- usitatissimum
- Family:
- Linaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Pale blue, 5-parted, the petals broad and spreading
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, alternate, narrow, and smooth-margined
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR, OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Linseed oil may cause skin irritation upon contact. Ingestion causes difficulty of breathing, paralysis, and convulsions.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cyanogenic glycoside (linomarin)
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
