Thymelaea passerina

Spurge flax

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Common name

Spurge flax

Scientific name

Thymelaea passerina (L.) Cosson & Germ.

Conservation status and threats

NOT protected species in Bulgaria.

Description and identification

Herbaceous annual plant to 55-60 cm tall and characteristically, wiry and erect. It grows as one main stem or, more commonly, branches from the upper portion of the main stem. Leaves are alternate and sessile, leathery, and jointed at a yellow cartilaginous base; blades are small, narrow and linear, 8-14 mm long. The flowers are perfect, greenish, tubular and axillary, 2-3 mm long, with 4 sepals, no petals, and 8 stamens (in 2 whorls of 4). Below each flower, two very small bracts. Flowering June-September.

References:

Grace Kostel. 2009. Thymelaea passerina (Thymelaeaceae) in South Dakot, in: Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Vol. 3, No. 2 (25 NOVEMBER 2009), pp. 901-903

Distribution in Bulgaria

The species is distributed almost throughout the country. Between 0 and 1000 m a.s.l. (Delipavlov et al., 2003).

Thymelaea passerina на български

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