Overview
Sand flax is a perennial herb in the linen and flax family (Linaceae). It has tiny yellow flowers and is endemic to pine rocklands and marl prairies in extreme South Florida.
Threats
The primary threats to sand flax are habitat destruction and fragmentation from urban development, fire suppression, invasive plants, and sea level rise. Its habitat of pine rocklands is a globally imperiled ecosystem.
Scientific Name
Identification Numbers
Characteristics
Habitat
Pine rocklands, marl prairies, and adjacent disturbed areas.
Physical Characteristics
Sand flax is a small, slender-stemmed herb that typically reaches 10-15 inches tall, forming branches toward the top of the plant. Leaves are very reduced; the plant is difficult to spot unless it is in flower. Tiny yellow 5-petaled flowers appear in the morning and usually shrivel away by afternoon. The fruit is a miniscule round capsule with a pointed beak.
Life Cycle
Short-lived perennial.
Sand flax plants have a mixed mating system wherein plants are capable of setting fruit without pollination, but cross-pollination via small bees and flies will result in a higher seed set (this was determined through research by Dr. Brittany Harris). Each capsule has the potential to produce 10 seeds.
Similar Species
Stiff yellow flax (Linum medium) and Florida yellow flax (Linum floridanum) are similar but they are not found in pine rocklands and their stems lack the red glands at the base of the leaves.
Geography
Pine rocklands, marl prairies, and disturbed upland of Miami-Dade and Monroe counties in South Florida.
Timeline
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