1276 Linum perenne L.

This polymorphic species is widely distributed in Eurasia and N. America. Fl. Eur. 2/1968, p. 208 f. reports five subspecies with rather distinct distribution areas, and Fl. USSR 14/1974, p. 116/90 reports still more taxa. It is considered to be introduced into eastern N. America. However, a closely related taxon, subsp. lewisii (Pursh) Hult. occurs over large areas of the rest of N. America. The species s. lat. belongs to the circumpolar plants (Hultén, Circumpol. Il, p. 176, 379 and map 168).