Flaxleaf (Thesium linophyllon, Sp. Pl.: 207 (1753))

Family: Santalaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 207 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Thesium

Vegetable: False

Observations: E. France to Latvia and C. Greece

Description

Flaxleaf, botanically known as Thesium linophyllon, is a delicate and intriguing plant species that has captured the interest of botanists and plant enthusiasts since it was first documented in 1753 in the seminal work “Species Plantarum” by Carl Linnaeus, denoted as ‘L.’ in botanical literature.

Belonging to the Santalaceae family, Flaxleaf is found in a range stretching from Eastern France through to Latvia and down to Central Greece. This geographical spread indicates its adaptability to various temperate environments across Europe. Its preferred habitats typically include grasslands and light woodlands, where it can thrive among a diverse array of plant communities.

Thesium linophyllon is characterized by its slender form and elongated leaves, which are reminiscent of the flax plant, hence its common name, Flaxleaf. These leaves are arranged alternately on the stem, giving the plant a statuesque yet graceful appearance. It produces small, inconspicuous flowers that are typically white or greenish in color, contributing to its subtle beauty in the wild.

Despite its modest size and appearance, Flaxleaf plays an essential ecological role. As a member of the Santalaceae, or sandalwood family, it exhibits hemi-parasitic behavior. This means it partially relies on host plants for water and nutrients, integrating itself seamlessly into its native ecosystems. This parasitic nature can drive exciting dynamics in plant communities, influencing biodiversity and interspecific interactions.

Given its relatively broad distribution, Flaxleaf serves as an interesting subject for further study concerning its ecological relationships, adaptive strategies, and potential medicinal uses. It is a testament to the enduring wonder of seemingly modest plants and their complex roles in natural environments.

Common Names

Deu: mittleres leinblatt
Eng: flaxleaf
En: Flaxleaf
Be: Ядранец ільналісты
Cs: Lněnka lnolistá
Nl: Vlasbladig bergvlas
Fr: Thésium à feuilles de lin, Thésium intermédiaire, Thésion à feuilles de lin
De: Leinblättriges Leinblatt, Mittleres Vermeinkraut, Mittleres Leinblatt, Leinblättriger Bergflachs
It: Linaiola comune, Linajola comune
Pl: Leniec pospolity

Synonyms

• Thesium fulvopes (Griess.)
• Xerololophus trinervis (Dulac)
• Thesium linophyllon var. pilosiusculum (Lawalrée)
• Thesium linariae-folium (Gilib.)
• Thesium linophyllon var. pratense (Wallr.)
• Thesium linophyllon var. intermedium ((Schrad.) Mérat)
• Thesium transsilvanicum (Schur)
• Thesium linophyllon subsp. intermedium (Čelak.)
• Thesium hutterianum (Opiz)
• Thesium linifolium (Schrank)
• Thesium linophyllon var. majus (Gaudin)
• Thesium linophyllon var. minus (Gaudin)
• Linosyris linophyllon (Kuntze)
• Linophyllum clusii (Bubani)
• Thesium arvense (Horv.)
• Linosyris intermedia ((Schrad.) Kuntze)
• Thesium intermedium (Schrad.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Italy (native)
• Poland (native)
• Romania (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Jul 2, 2021 by werner rom (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 10, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 10, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 10, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 19, 2011 by Martin Bishop (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Jul 10, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Jul 10, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 7, 2019 by Tela Botanica − daniel SALOMON (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 19, 2011 by Martin Bishop (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken May 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken May 19, 2011 by Martin Bishop (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jun 26, 2022 by Franco Colnago (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 15, 2003 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Jul 15, 2008 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Other

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jul 15, 1999 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jul 10, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jul 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken May 15, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Laurent PETIT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 10, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 10, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5334510)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:780950-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Thesium linophyllon L.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Forb/herb

Growth

Bloom months: [‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’]