Image to followAI-generated illustrationLinum catharticum
Linum catharticum
FamilyGenus: Linumnative in Germany
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19
Species
interact
🔗
52
Interactions
documented
🐛
1
Host relationships
Species
About this species
A native herbaceous plant of calcareous grasslands, Linum catharticum produces small blooms from April to September. It reaches about 13 cm in height and favours sunny, nutrient-poor, lime-rich soils that are fresh to moderately moist.
Ecological network
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PollinationLarval hostFlower visit
Ecological significance
As a native member of calcareous grassland communities, it contributes to the structure of these low-disturbance habitats.
Annual cycle
Flowering occurs from April to September.
Standort & Merkmale
Light
Sonne
Moisture
Frisch (Mäßig feucht)
Soil
Schwachzehrer (Magerer Boden)
Flowering period
Apr – Sep
Soil reaction
Basisch / Kalkhold
Bioregion
Continental
Growth form
Krautige Pflanze
Woodiness
Nicht verholzt
Leaf type
Breitblättrig
Plant height
0.128 m
Morphological traits: TRY ID3 (CC BY 3.0) & TRY ID81 (CC BY)
Pflege & Anbau
**Light:** Full sun.
**Moisture:** Fresh, moderately moist soil.
**Soil:** Low-nutrient, lime-rich (calcareous).
This species is best suited to wildflower meadows or rock gardens on chalk or limestone substrates.
Scientific profile
Linum catharticum is a native, non-woody, broad-leaved herb found in Great Britain. Typically reaching a height of around 13 cm, it inhabits sunny sites on fresh, moderately moist, low-nutrient soils with a calcareous or basic reaction. The plant is adapted to habitats with low disturbance and moderately warm conditions. Its small leaves have an average area of about 13 mm², and seeds are light, with a diaspore mass of approximately 0.15 mg. Blooming takes place from April to September, and the species is not considered threatened (Red List category: *).
Pollinators & visitors
14 Arten interagieren mit dieser Pflanze
Coenonympha pamphilusBombus pascuorumBombus pratorumSphaerophoria scriptaSphecodes pellucidusAndrena minutulaEupeodes corollaeNeoascia podagricaSyritta pipiensPlatycheirus albimanusMelanostoma mellinumPlatycheirus manicatusEpisyrphus balteatusAndrena semilaevis
Host relationships
1 species use this plant as a host
Aspitates gilvaria
Other flower visitors
4 other species visit the flowers
Hemipenthes morioSiphona geniculataEmpis vitripennisEriothrix rufomaculata
Sources & data origin
•Cook et al. (2025) UK Butterfly & Moth Traits (DOI: 10.5285/dbc7cc17-cbbd-49dd-bab4-8e8855768d66)
•Interaktionsdaten via GloBI (CC-BY 4.0)
•pollinator_interactions
•FloraWeb / BfN
•EIVE 1.0 — Dengler et al. (2023), DOI: 10.3897/VCS.98324 (CC BY 4.0)
•GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — GBIF Secretariat (2024), DOI: 10.15468/39omei (CC BY 4.0)
•TRY Categorical Traits (ID3) — Kattge et al. (2012), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.3 (CC BY 3.0)
•TRY Global Spectrum (ID81) — Díaz et al. (2016/2021), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.81 (CC BY)
•Govaerts R et al. (2025) — World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) v14. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. DOI: 10.34885/xs7h-ze42 (CC BY 4.0)
All data is licensed under CC BY 4.0, CC0, or compatible terms. Attribution according to license conditions. Full source overview →