Linum narbonense - Beautiful Flax

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Malpighiales - Family: Linaceae

This flower is well named because it is really beautiful, especially when seen in large colonies which carpet the ground with a lovely azure blue colour.

This gorgeous wildflower grows throughout much of the Mediterranean Region from Portugal in the west and eastwards to Central Europe where it can be found in Slovenia, for instance. It favours grassy and rocky habitats in open, sunny positions and flowers from April through until the beginning of June.

The specimens shown here were photographed in the Gargano Peninsula region of Italy in mid-April.