Sclerolinon
Encyclopedia
Sclerolinon is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the flax family
containing the single species Sclerolinon digynum, which is known by the common name northwestern yellowflax. It is native to the western United States where it is known from Washington and Idaho
through central California
; however, it may now be extirpated
from Idaho. It grows in seasonally wet habitat such as mountain meadows and vernal pool
s. This is an annual herb producing a hairless, erect stem up to 20 centimeters tall. The leaves are oval in shape, the upper ones with serrated edges. They are oppositely arranged about the stem and grow erect instead of spreading away from the stem. The inflorescence
is a cyme of flowers surrounded by serrated, leaflike bract
s. The flower has five yellow petals in a calyx of toothed sepal
s.
Linaceae
The Linaceae is a family of flowering plants. The family is cosmopolitan, and includes approximately 250 species. There are 14 genera, classified into two subfamilies: Linoideae and Hugonioideae ....
containing the single species Sclerolinon digynum, which is known by the common name northwestern yellowflax. It is native to the western United States where it is known from Washington and Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
through central California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
; however, it may now be extirpated
Local extinction
Local extinction, also known as extirpation, is the condition of a species which ceases to exist in the chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere...
from Idaho. It grows in seasonally wet habitat such as mountain meadows and vernal pool
Vernal pool
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species...
s. This is an annual herb producing a hairless, erect stem up to 20 centimeters tall. The leaves are oval in shape, the upper ones with serrated edges. They are oppositely arranged about the stem and grow erect instead of spreading away from the stem. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a cyme of flowers surrounded by serrated, leaflike bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s. The flower has five yellow petals in a calyx of toothed sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s.