Linum can be a bit confusing. Not to identify, but because there are some similar names.

We have Linum lewisii Pursh here in Colorado.

Linum perenne L. is not in Colorado, but is next door in Kansas and Nebraska. There's a not accepted synonym for Linum perenne L., which is Linum lewisii auct. non Pursh. That's not too hard to sort out. The real problem is the common names. I've only listed the ones from ITIS here, but there are lots of others and at least a few of them overlap.

Linum lewisii Pursh

• Synonym(s):

• Common Name(s):

  • Lewis' flax [English]

  • blue flax [English]

  • Lewis' blue flax [English]

  • prairie flax [English]

• Taxonomic Status:

• Current Standing:

  • accepted

Linum perenne L.

• Synonym(s):

  • Linum lewisii auct. non Pursh

• Common Name(s):

  • blue flax [English]

• Taxonomic Status:

• Current Standing

  • accepted

Linum lewisii auct. non Pursh

• Common Name(s):

• Accepted Name(s):

  • Linum perenne L.

• Taxonomic Status:

• Current Standing:

  • not accepted - misapplied