Linum catharticum

Purgier - flax ( Linum catharticum ), illustration

The Purgier - flax ( Linum catharticum ), also meadow flax, is a species in the genus flax ( Linum ).

Description

The Purgier Flax is an annual plant that can grow summer or winterannuell, and then has a thin, spindle-shaped root. More rarely it grows from two years old to persevering, and then forms a weak woody rootstock. He achieved a growth rate of 5 to 20 ( to 30) centimeters. The stems are erect to ascending, thin and bald. You are branched or simply at the base. In the area of ​​inflorescence stems is usually troublesome task.

The leaves are - unusual in the genus Lein - against constantly. In the upper stem regions, the leaves are partially alternate. The leaves are glabrous, without glands at the base. The lower leaves have an elliptical to wrong - ovoid shape, and are one to two times as long as wide. The middle and upper leaves are lanceolate and up to 1 inch long, while two to six times as long as wide.

The inflorescences are like Asia. The flowers have a diameter of 4 to 5 millimeters; before flowering they are nodding. The flower stalks are longer than their bracts and bare. The flowers are fünfzählig. the sepals are 2-3 mm long, from narrow elliptical shape, pointed at the end, einnervig and glandular ciliate at the edge. The petals are (3 to ) 4 to 5 (up to 6 ) mm long. Her color is white with a yellow background. The stamens are about 2 millimeters long. The ovary bears five ovate - kopfige scars to around 0.5 mm long pistils.

The fruit stalks stand upright. The capsule is spherical, 2-3 mm in length. The false septa inside are hairy. The seeds are elliptical, flattened and 1 to 1.5 millimeters long. Its surface is smooth and light brown.

The flowering period extends from June to August.

The chromosome number is 2n = 16

Ecology

The Purgier flax is at lower altitudes a Therophyt, but in the mountains, he is two years old and enduring.

The flowers are homo game to weakly proterogyne, odorless, nectar leading, something trichterige disk flowers; the anthers are at the same height as the scars, but initially relatively far away from them; later they approach the scars, so that spontaneous self-pollination can occur. Pollination is mainly by small Diptera. The seed dispersal occurs epizoochor by pittosporum.

Dissemination

The Purgier flax occurs in the meridional and boreal zone of oceanic toned areas of Eurasia: The range extends in the north to the British Isles, Iceland and Scandinavia, in the south to the mountains of Morocco, Spain, Italy, the Balkans, Anatolia, the Caucasus and Alborz mountains in Iran. In eastern Canada and the northeastern United States and in New Zealand the species is naturalized.

In Germany, it occurs in all provinces. Nationwide, it is deemed not at risk in some states it is classified as endangered. In Austria he is represented in all states and not at risk. The same applies to Switzerland.

The Purgier flax often occurs in marsh lands and in spring swamps. It prefers moist, calcareous, mostly dense soils. He is a Tonzeiger and a pioneer plant with endotrophic mycorrhiza. He partially missing in mountains with silicate soils.

After Ellenberg he is a half- light plant, a weak acid to weak base pointer and a Ordnungscharakterart of wet meadows and stream banks corridors ( Molinietalia ).

System

The Purgier flax was first published in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum. The taxonomic value of the as Linum catharticum subsp. suecicum ( Murb. ) Hayek separated persistent forms is uncertain; it could also be just to site modifications.

Ingredients, application

It used to be prepared from the Purgier - Lein a laxative, causing large quantities nausea tea. Therefore, the plant got its name. It contains the toxic bitter substance linin and is therefore no longer used in this form as a drug.

Swell

• Siegmund Seybold (ed.): Schmeil - Fitschen interactive. CD -ROM, Version 1.1, Quelle & Meyer, Wiebelsheim 2002, ISBN 3-494-01327-6.
• Erich Oberdorfer: Phytosociological Exkursionsflora for Germany and adjacent areas. Assisted by Angelika Schwabe, Theo Müller. 8, greatly revised and expanded edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart ( Hohenheim), 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5.
• Margot Spohn, Marianne Golte - Bechtle: What flowers there? The Encyclopedia: over 1000 flowering plants in Central Europe. Kosmos, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-440-10326-9.