Linum perenne L., Sp. Pl. 1: 277. 1753; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 411. 1874.

Perennial herbs, 15 - 90 cm high; stems many from the base; branches ascending or erect, glabrous. Leaves sessile, 0.5 - 2.5 cm long, lanceolate or lower oblong, obtuse and upper linear, acute at apex, 1 - 3-nerved. Flowers ca 2 cm acrosss, in 3 - 5-flowered cymes; pedicels up to 10 mm long. Sepals 4 - 5 mm long, ovate or obovate, acute, glandular along margin, 3 - 5-nerved. Petals free, 10 - 12 mm long, obovate, blue. Stamens 5, alternating with 5 small staminodes. Ovary 5-locular, ovules 1 in each locule; styles 5, connate at base, heterostylous; stigmas capitate to subcapitate. Capsules 5 - 7 mm across, subglobose, dehiscing into 10 cocci, larger than white-margined sepals. Seeds compressed, shining dark brown.

Fl. & Fr. April - Oct.

Distrib. India: In Western Himalayas between 2500 and 4000 m. Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Pakistan, China(Tibet), C. & E. Europe, C.I.S. and W. North America.

A potential ornamental species with its showy flowers. The seeds arc considered emollient in Europe and China.