About Linum perenne L.
Linum perenne, commonly known as perennial flax, blue flax, or lint, is a flowering plant belonging to the family Linaceae. It is native to Europe, where it occurs primarily in the Alps and grows locally in England. It has been introduced into North America, where it grows on mountain ridges, in wooded areas, and in sandy plain habitats of the sagebrush steppe, near sagebrush and rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus). It is a slender herbaceous perennial plant that grows to 90 centimetres (3 ft) tall from a fairly woody root crown. It has tough, unbranched stems, and many spirally arranged narrow lanceolate leaves that are 1–2.5 cm long. Its flowers are blue, 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) in diameter, and have five petals. If the stems are broken, the flowers will fall off. English populations of this species are sometimes distinguished as Linum perenne subsp. anglicum, while high altitude populations in the Alps are classified as Linum perenne subsp. alpinum. The similar western North American species Linum lewisii is sometimes treated as a subspecies of L. perenne. Native Americans used the stems of this plant to make fishing line and nets. For garden cultivation, there are developed cultivars including 'Blue Sapphire'.
