Seasonal Wild Flowers

Fairy Flax

Linum catharticum

Linaceae

Purging Flax

May to September

It is found throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Fairy Flax

It grows in dry, calcareous grassland and on bare soils and

rocks.

Fairy Flax is a native, annual or biennial herb, growing up

to 25cm.

It is slender and has an erect, wiry, mesh-like growth form.

Flowers are up to 1cm across and have 5 white petals.

The centre of the flower is yellow at the bases of the

petals, the stigmasand the stamens.

The seed capsule is globular.

The leaves are small (5-12mm)and obovate (oblong/

oval).

It used to be used as a mild purgative, but be warned.

A seventeenth century recipe, decribed by Mabey (1996),

suggests adding the bruised plant to white wine and letting

it infuse on embers overnight. Drinking it in the morning

should "produce up to 8 stools".

Fairy Flax, Ham Hill, Somerset

Flowers and seed capsules

Small leaves