Linum campanulatum

Linum campanulatum is a perennial plant belonging to the Linaceae family.

Description
Linum campanulatum reaches on average 10 - 30 cm in height. The short stem is perennial, woody and glabrous, with long herbaceous annual branches. Leaves are alternate, up to 4 cm long and 1 cm wide. The shape of lower cauline leaves is quite variable. Usually they are obovate-obtuse, but in some cases may be spatulate-lanceolate. The upper cauline leaves are gradually reduced in width to become almost linear.

The inflorescence has 3-5 campanulate actinomorphic flowers, about 3 cm in diameter, with five free sepals and five free petals. Petals are yellow, oblong-oval, 2.5-3.5 cm long. The flowering period extends from May through June. The flowers are hermaphrodite and pollinated by insects (entomophily). Fruit is a capsule with ten compartments, each containing one seed.

Distribution
This plant is widespread in the western Mediterranean, from Spain to northwestern Italy.

Habitat
It prefers rocky places containing serpentinites, at an altitude of 300 - 1100 m above sea level.