winged flax
Linum alatum (Small) H.J.P.Winkl.
Winged flax is an annual or short-lived perennial, usually 10–40 cm tall. Basally branched stems spread or rise almost upright, becoming strongly ribbed above. Flowers open into broad funnels of deep yellow with reddish shading toward the base. Flora of North America: Linum alatum
Botanical name
Linum alatum (Small) H.J.P.Winkl. is the accepted fuller author citation for the supplied winged flax. ITIS: Flora of North America Linaceae update
Recognizing the plant
Slender leaves are linear to narrowly lance-shaped, 1–3 cm long and a few millimetres wide. Small glands occur beside their bases. The outer sepals provide a particularly distinctive clue: their broad, wavy or scalloped margins carry a gland near the tip of each scallop, and their apices end in conspicuous bristles. Petals are about 9–18 mm long. The egg-shaped capsules split into five persistent segments, each containing two seeds. Flora of North America: Linum alatum
Bloom window
Texas and adjacent Gulf region
Flowering is recorded from March through September across this range. Flora of North America: Linum alatum
Native range
The species occurs in east-central Texas, the Gulf region and southern mesquite plains, extending into adjacent Tamaulipas, Mexico. A historical record also comes from southwestern Louisiana. It grows on open sandy ground and beaches, generally below 300 m. Flora of North America: Linum alatum
Botanical sources
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.