Plant
Lewis’s Wild Flax
Linum lewisii
Photo: Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), CC BY-SA 3.0
Common Names
Blue Flax / Prairie Flax
Habitat
High dry prairies and mountain slopes
First Observed
1806-07-09
Observed At
Near the Sun River, Lewis and Clark County, Montana
Lewis collected the first specimen of this wild flax on July 9, 1806, near the Sun River in Montana, during the expedition’s return journey. Frederick Pursh named the species in Lewis’s honor. The delicate blue flowers of Lewis’s wild flax bloom across the western prairies and mountains. Native peoples used the plant’s fibers for cordage.
Journal Excerpt
Lewis, July 9, 1806: "I also met with a species of flax new to me; it has a very strong scent and a deep blue flower, and is found on the high dry prairies."
Recent sightings
Where it’s being seen today
3 research-grade iNaturalist observations between 2016–2025. Most recent: 2025-05-26. Sourced from Terrain360 trail captures, cached locally.
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Lewis’s Wild Flax
Feb
25
1805
Fort Mandan, preparing for departure — Patrick Gass: February 25, 1805
...iver and ‘also on the Missow Bea
4 18 a great quantity of flax growing, and at this time
- in bloom. ‘Two men went out this mornin; t > huns. Baie
for elk, in o...
Jun
5
1805
Marias River decision camp — Patrick Gass: June 5, 1805
.... In these bottoms I saw the stalks of a plant resem-
bling flax in every particular.
Jun
16
1805
Great Falls of the Missouri — Joseph Whitehouse: June 16, 1805
...rink freely of it. in
the bottoms is a considerable of wild flax growing all in blos-
sum. Cap! Lewis’s party had prepared & dryed buffalow meat
and had caught & ...
Jun
16
1805
Great Falls of the Missouri — John Ordway: June 16, 1805
...e drink of it freely, in the bottoms is a great quantity of flax
growing all in blue blossoms &. C.
Jun
17
1805
Great Falls of the Missouri — Patrick Gass: June 17, 1805
...small river and also on the Missouri is a great quantity of flax
growing, and at this time in bloom. Two men went out this
morning to hunt for elk, in order to get ...
Jun
25
1805
Great Falls Portage — Joseph Whitehouse: June 25, 1805
...d Camped in a narrow bottom on the S.
Side. considerable of flax in this bottom half seded. we took
on board Some deer meat & a Skin which Cap! Clark killed.
Fuly 1...
Jun
25
1805
Great Falls Portage — John Ordway: June 25, 1805
...n
a narrow bottom on the Larbord Side4 considerable of fine flax
in this bottom now going to Seed, we found a Deer Skin and
Some meat which Cap* Clark had killed.
J...
Jun
26
1805
Great Falls Portage — John Ordway: June 26, 1805
...S [July 24
passed a nomber of Islands, considerable of good flax now fit to
pull in the praries & bottoms, the Thissels pleanty. the pine
continues on the sides of ...
Jun
28
1805
Great Falls Portage — Joseph Whitehouse: June 28, 1805
... places & fine Short grass
in general. considerable of good flax now going to Seed. the
thissels also pleanty & high now in blossom. the timber con-
tinues on the I...
Jul
23
1805
Missouri River above Great Falls, Gates of the Mountains — Joseph Whitehouse: July 23, 1805
... places & fine Short grass
in general, considerable of good flax now going to Seed, the
thissels also pleanty & high now in blossom, the timber con-
tinues on the I...
Jul
31
1805
Lewis: July 31, 1805
...s are
covered with fine grass, tanzy, thistles, onions and flax. the bottom land
fertile and of a black rich loam. the uplands poor sterile and of a light
yellow...
Jul
31
1805
Jefferson River ascending toward divide — Joseph Whitehouse: July 31, 1805
... it
large open plain on L. Side on which grows abundance of flax
wild Tanzey thissels &c. the above mentioned handsome
Creek runs through this prarie on Smoth botto...
Aug
8
1805
Lewis: August 8, 1805
...ntity of the buffaloe clover in the bottoms. the sunflower, flax, green
swoard, thistle and several species of the rye grass some of which rise to
the hight of 3 ...
Aug
13
1805
Camp Fortunate / Shoshone contact — Joseph Whitehouse: August 13, 1805
...th prarie on L.S. Cap! Clark Shot a duck. consider-
able of flax in these praries. Some of the men Save Some of
the Seed. 2 hunters did not join us this evening.
Aug
13
1805
Camp Fortunate / Shoshone contact — John Ordway: August 13, 1805
...prarie on L. Side.1 Cap1 Clark Shot a
duck, considerable of flax in these praries. Some of the party
saw some of the Seed. 2 of the hunters have not joined us this
...
