Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)

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Linum usitatissimum
L., Linaceae
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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 9.5 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Linum crepitans (Boenn.) Dumort.; Linum humile Mill.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: ya ma

English: common flax, cultivated flax, flax, linseed

French: lin, lin commun, lin oléagineux, lin textile

Hawaiian: lilina

Korean: ama

Spanish: kitani, linaza, lino

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Annuals 30-120 cm tall. Stems simple, cylindric, erect, woody at base, apically corymbosely branched. Leaves alternate, linear, linear-lanceolate, or lanceolate, 2-4 cm x 1-5 mm, 3 (or 5)-veined from base, base attenuate, apex acute. Flowers axillary, solitary or in broad cymes, 15-20 mm in diameter. Pedicel 1-3 cm, erect. Sepals ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 5-8 mm, 3 (or 5)-veined from base, nonglandular, margin entire or ciliate, apex acute to acuminate. Petals blue, rarely white or red, obovate, 0.8-1.2 cm. Styles distinct; stigma linear-clavate. Capsule globose, 6-9 mm in diameter, septicidal, with 10 seeds. Seeds brown, oblong, flattened, 3.5-4 mm"  (Flora of China online).

Habitat/ecology:  In New Caledonia, "Existe aujourd'hui comme mauvaise herbe peu commune des jardins"  (MacKee, 1994; p. 94).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Only cultivated (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
Chile (offshore islands)
Juan Fernández Islands
Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island) introduced
invasive
Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands)
Juan Fernández Islands
Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island) introduced
invasive
Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (p. 555)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Santa Cruz Group
Santa Cruz Island introduced
cultivated
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
O‘ahu Island introduced
cultivated
Imada, Clyde T./Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2013)
Harold L. Lyon Arboretum
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago
Île Grande Terre introduced
invasive
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 94)
Vouchers cited: MacKee 40819, MacKee 42243
Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
British Columbia (province of Canada)
Province of British Columbia
Canada (British Columbia) introduced
U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
China
China
China (People's Republic of) introduced
invasive
cultivated
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Japan
Japan
Japan introduced
Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 185)
Taiwan
Taiwan Island
Taiwan Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
United States (west coast)
United States (west coast states)
USA (Oregon) introduced
U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast)
United States (west coast states)
USA (California) introduced
U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast)
United States (west coast states)
USA (Washington) introduced
U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
United States (continental except west coast)
United States (other states)
United States (other states) introduced
U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (continental except west coast)
United States (other states)
USA (Florida) introduced
U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Linum usitatissimum, please let us know.


Need more info? Have questions? Comments? Information to contribute? Contact PIER! (pier@hear.org)

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This page was created on 26 NOV 2008 and was last updated on 3 DEC 2008.