Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 11, 2026

Linanthus

Linanthus is a genus of annual and perennial plants in the phlox family Polemoniaceae. The species are found in western North America and in Chile, with the greatest diversity in California.

Last revised
Jul 11, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
581 w
Citations
3
Source
Linanthus
Linanthus demissus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Polemoniaceae
Genus: Linanthus
Benth. (1833)
Species1

26, see text

Synonyms1
  • Fenzlia Benth. (1833), nom. illeg.
  • Leptodactylon Hook. & Arn. (1839)
  • Tintinabulum Rydb. (1917)

Linanthus is a genus of annual and perennial plants in the phlox family Polemoniaceae. The species are found in western North America and in Chile, with the greatest diversity in California.

The stems are erect, with multiple branches arising directly from the base, and grow 2–15 cm tall. The leaves are stem-like (cauline) and opposite, with shapes ranging from entire to palmately lobed, the 3-9 lobes being linear to lanceolate or spatulate. Flowers have a tubular calyx, and the corolla may be funnel- or bell-shaped, or salverform.

The genus name is from the Greek for "flax flower", since the flowers superficially resemble those of flax. The genus has recently been split, with many of the species formerly included now transferred to the genus Leptosiphon (Jepson Manual).

Species

26 species are accepted.1

Formerly placed here


References

References

  1. Linanthus Benth. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 17 April 2024.