Fairy flax is also known as purging flax. In earlier days, its poisonous seeds was used as a laxative for helping chronic constipation. Fairy flax grows in various kinds of soils: calcium-rich dunes, wet valleys and inland dune grasslands. Despite the large variety of possible habitats, fairy flax has grown rare in the Netherlands. It is only commonly found in the dunes. This tiny flower grows in the same kind of places where other uncommon plants grow, such as glaucous sedge and quaking grass. As long as the area is relatively open, unfertilized, not too shaded and rich in calcium, fairy flax has a chance.

Linum catharticum L.:
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Canada

Origin: Exotic

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Exotic

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

Foodplant / pathogen
acervulus of Colletotrichum coelomycetous anamorph of Colletotrichum lini infects and damages seedling of Linum catharticum

Foodplant / parasite
telium of Melampsora lini var. lini parasitises live stem of Linum catharticum
Remarks: season: 5-10

Foodplant / open feeder
nocturnal larva of Rhogogaster chambersi grazes on leaf of Linum catharticum
Other: sole host/prey

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.


No available public DNA sequences.

Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 3
Specimens with Barcodes: 12
Species With Barcodes: 1

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable