SafePlants

Marin Dwarf Flax (Hesperolinon congestum)

The Marin Dwarf Flax, scientifically known as Hesperolinon congestum, is a delicate annual herb endemic to a very specific region in California.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant is a forb/herb (a non-woody plant that is not a grass)

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Hesperolinon congestum (A. Gray) Small
• Common Names: Marin Dwarf Flax, Marin Western Flax
• Family: Linaceae (implied, based on related species)
• Synonym: Linum congestum A. Gray

Distribution and Habitat

• The Marin Dwarf Flax is exclusively found in San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin Counties, California, USA.
• It often grows in serpentine grasslands, which are known for their unique soil composition.
• Fewer than 20 sites are known to exist, with some sources indicating that only one site remains at the Presidio.

Conservation Status

• The Marin Dwarf Flax is listed as "threatened" by both federal and state agencies, indicating a high risk of extinction.
• Its endangered status is primarily due to habitat loss and degradation.

Morphological Characteristics

• It is an annual herb, meaning it completes its life cycle in one year.
• It bears clusters of small, low-growing rose-white flowers, which typically bloom from now through July.
• It is a forb/herb (a non-woody plant that is not a grass)

Ecology

• The Marin Dwarf Flax thrives in nutrient-poor and potentially toxic soils.
• It grows on serpentine grassland.

Quirky Facts

• The abbreviation "MDF" is often used to refer to Marin Dwarf Flax.
• It grows on serpentine grassland.

Further Information

• USDA PLANTS Database
• BISON Web Link: http://bison.usgs.ornl.gov/api/scientificName/Hesperolinon%20congestum
• ITIS Web Link
• Discover Life: Discover Life's page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification and distribution of Hesperolinon congestum - Marin dwarf-flax