36. Linum carteri Small, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 3: 424. 1905.
[C E]
Carter's flax Carter's flax
Cathartolinum carteri (Small) Small
Herbs, annual or short-lived perennial, 23–60 cm, puberulent or ± scabrous on angles near base or throughout. Stems erect, usually unbranched below inflorescence, sometimes branched at base. Leaves alternate, spreading; stipular glands present or absent; blade linear, 15–30 × 0.6–1.4 mm, margins entire or distalmost glandular-toothed, not ciliate, apex long-attenuate. Inflorescences ascending or spreading cymes. Pedicels 4.5–9 mm. Flowers: sepals deciduous, lanceolate, inner sepals slightly shorter than outer, outer ones 4.5–7 mm, margins of inner sepals narrowly scarious, all glandular-toothed, apex short-awned; petals orange-yellow, broadly obovate, 10–17 mm; stamens 4.5–7 mm; anthers 0.8–2.3 mm; staminodia absent; styles connate nearly to apex, 4–6 mm; stigmas capitate. Capsules ovoid, 4–5 × 3.4–3.7 mm, thick textured, apex obtuse, dehiscing into 5, 2-seeded segments, segments persistent on plant, false septa complete, proximal part membranaceous, not terminating in loose fringe, distal part cartilaginous, margins ciliate. Seeds 2.3–2.8 × 1–1.3 mm. 2n = 60.
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): Florida.
The stems of Linum carteri are ribbed. The corollas are broadly bowl-shaped and all parts of the flower are yellow except the bright green stigmas.
