Linaceae

L. mucronatum Bertol., Misc. Bot. (1): 18 (1842) non Gilib. (1792) nomen illegit. Map 32, p. 423.
Herbaceous or suffruticose perennial, ± glaucous, usually glabrous. Flowering stems lined but smooth, 5-30 cm. Median cauline leaves usually 1-nerved, with stipular glands, oblong to oblong-lanceolate or linear, acute or acuminate, 1-3 cm. Sterile rosettes none or few at flowering time, or with an imbricate column of small spathulate leaves on long sterile shoots, or at the base of flowering stems. Cymes 3-many flowered, often with widely spreading branches, at least in fruit. Sepals lanceolate, linear-lanceolate or rarely ovate, acuminate, 6-13(-15) mm, often keeled, margin membranous and ± glandular-ciliate. Petals yellow or apricot-yellow, often with a purple claw, 15-28 mm. Capsule (4-)5-6 mm; beak 1 mm.
A very variable species, of which a wider view is taken here than in my earlier revision (Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 22: 151-157, 1957). Four often intergrading subspecies can be recognised in Turkey.
1. Plant strongly shrubby at base, the lower leaves small, spathulate, and densely imbricated in a column (as on the numerous sterile shoots); petals apricot-yellow subsp. mucronatum
1. Plant herbaceous, the lower leaves not as above; petals clear yellow, with or without a purple claw
  2. Sepals 7-13(-15) mm; leaves 2-7 mm broad, often broadest above, flat; cymes 3-many-flowered, lax; petals 20-28 mm, with or without a purple claw
   3. Stems straight; leaves oblong, acute; cymes divaricate (branching at 45°); petals yellow throughout; sepals c. 1+ x capsule (Mesopotamia) subsp. orientale
   3. Stems usually flexuous; leaves oblong, obovate or linear-oblong, usually abruptly acuminate; cymes more widely divaricate; petals with or without a purple claw; sepals c. 2(-3) x capsule (Widespread) subsp. armenum
  2. Sepals 6-8 mm; leaves l-l.5(-2) mm broad, linear, involute; cymes 3-7-flowered, compact; petals 15-20 mm, plain yellow subsp. gypsicola
    4. Leaves glabrous var. gypsicola
    4. Leaves papillose-puberulent var. papilliferum
subsp. mucronatum. Syn: L. sulphureum Boiss. & Hausskn. ex Boiss., Fl. Or. 1: 857 (1867),! L. rigidissimum Post in J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 24: 424 (1886). Fl. 4-6. Disturbed calcareous steppe, rocky slopes, fallow fields, 450-1200 m.
Type: ex oris Euphrates (sic), Chesney 186 (K! BM!).
B7 Tunceli: Tunceli to Pülümür, 1100 m, D. 19230! C6 Gaziantep: Gaziantep, 900 m, Balls 794! Maraş: Ahir Da. above Maraş, 1100 m, D. 27485! Urfa: Rum Kala'a, Sint. 1888: 269! C8 Mardin: Mardin to Savur, 1200 m, D. 28532!
N. Iraq, Syrian Desert. Ir.-Tur. element. Contrary to my earlier account (Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 22: 151, 1957), reconsideration of the type material has led me to treat L. sulphureum as synonymous with L. mucronatum. Two Turkish specimens are ± intermediate between subsp. mucronatum and subsp. armenum: C7 Urfa: Birecik to Suruç, 700-800 m, D. 27977! Mardin: Kiziltepe, 600 m, D. 28665!