''Linum'' (flax) is a
genus of approximately 200 species
[''Linum''.]
The Jepson Manual. in the
flowering plant family
Linaceae. They are native to
temperate and
subtropical
The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Geographical z ...
regions of the world. The genus includes the
common flax (''L. usitatissimum''), the
bast fibre of which is used to produce
linen
Linen () is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant.
Linen is very strong, absorbent, and dries faster than cotton. Because of these properties, linen is comfortable to wear in hot weather and is valued for use in garments. It also ...
and the seeds to produce
linseed oil
Linseed oil, also known as flaxseed oil or flax oil (in its edible form), is a colourless to yellowish oil obtained from the dried, ripened seeds of the flax plant (''Linum usitatissimum''). The oil is obtained by pressing, sometimes followed by ...
.

The flowers of most species are blue or yellow, rarely red, white, or pink, and some are
heterostylous. There is an average of 6 to 10 seeds per boll.
''Linum'' species are used as food plants by the
larvae of some
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...
species including the
cabbage moth,
the nutmeg, the
setaceous Hebrew character and ''
Coleophora striolatella'', which feeds exclusively on ''
Linum narbonense''.
Cultivation
Several flaxes are cultivated as garden
ornamentals, including the blue-flowered species
blue flax (''L. narbonense''),
Lewis' blue flax (''L. lewisii''), and
perennial blue flax (''L. perenne''), the red-flowered
scarlet flax (''L. grandiflorum''), and the yellow-flowered
golden flax (''L. flavum''). In
Eurasia, since Roman times, the genus ''Linum'' has been cultivated not only for its plant fiber, but also its seeds and tender leaves for culinary usage.
[ Babylonian Talmud ('' Baba Bathra'' 92a, Rashi, s.v. ולא צמחו; '']Nedarim
In Judaism, a neder (נדר, plural ''nedarim'') is a kind of vow or oath. The neder may consist of performing some act in the future (either once or regularly) or abstaining from a particular type of activity of the person's choice. The concept o ...
'' 49a), Mishnah ('' Peah'' 6:4), Tosefta (''Ma'aser Rishon'' 3:8)
Selected species
;
*''
Linum africanum''
*''
'' – winged flax
*''
''
*''
Linum alpinum
''Linum alpinum'' is a species of perennial plant belonging to the Linaceae family.
Etymology
The Latin genus name ''Linum'' means ''thread'', where as the species name ''alpinum'' means ''from the Alps''.
Subspecies
Subspecies include:
*''Lin ...
''
*''
Linum arboreum'' – tree flax
*''
Linum arenicola
''Linum arenicola'', known as sand flax, is a flowering plant in the flax family, Linaceae. It is endemic to Florida in the United States, where it is considered an endangered species.
References
arenicola
''Arenicola'' is a genus of capi ...
'' – sand flax
*''
'' – bristle flax
*''
'' – southern flax
*''
Linum austriacum
''Linum austriacum'', Asian flax, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Linaceae
Linaceae is a family of flowering plants. The family is cosmopolitan, and includes about 250 species in 14 genera, classified into two subfamili ...
'' – Asian flax
*''
Linum berlandieri'' – Berlandier's yellow flax
*''
Linum bienne'' (syn. ''L. angustifolium'') – pale flax
*''
Linum campanulatum
''Linum campanulatum'' is a perennial plant belonging to the Linaceae family.
Description
''Linum campanulatum'' reaches on average in height.Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. II, pag. 22 The short stem is perennial, ...
''
*''
Linum cariense
''Linum cariense'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Linaceae
Linaceae is a family of flowering plants. The family is cosmopolitan, and includes about 250 species in 14 genera, classified into two subfamilies: the Linoideae and Hu ...
''
*''
'' – Carter's flax
*''
Linum catharticum'' – fairy flax
*''
Linum compactum'' – Wyoming flax
*''
Linum cratericola
''Linum cratericola'', the Floreana Flax, is a species of plant in the Linaceae
Linaceae is a family of flowering plants. The family is cosmopolitan, and includes about 250 species in 14 genera, classified into two subfamilies: the Linoideae ...
'' – Galápagos Islands flax
*''
''
*''
'' – Laredo flax
*''
Linum flavum'' – golden flax
*''
–'' Florida yellow flax
*''
Linum grandiflorum'' – scarlet flax, flowering flax
*''
'' – downy flax
*''
'' – Texas flax
*''
'' – tufted flax
*''
Linum intercursum
Linum intercursum, common names sandplain flax and sandplain wild flax, is a perennial plant native to the United States.
Conservation status in the United States
It is listed as endangered in Indiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, ...
'' – sandplain flax
*''
'' – King's flax
*''
Linum leoni''
*''
Linum lewisii'' – Lewis' blue flax, Lewis flax
*

''
'' – Sullivan City flax
*''
Linum macrocarpum'' – Spring Hill flax
*''
Linum marginale
''Linum marginale'', commonly known as native flax or wild flax, is a species of flowering plant in the family Linaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a perennial herb with few branches, linear leaves, and blue flowers with five usually b ...
'' – Australian native flax
*''
Linum medium
''Linum medium'', common name stiff yellow flax, is a species of '' Linum'' (flax) native to eastern North America. It is found as far west as Texas and Wisconsin, east to the Atlantic ocean, north to Ontario and Maine, and south to southern Flor ...
'' – stiff yellow flax
*''
Linum monogynum'' – New Zealand linen flax
*''
Linum narbonense'' – blue flax
*''
'' – New Mexico yellow flax
*''
Linum perenne'' – perennial blue flax
*''
Linum pratense
''Linum pratense'', commonly called meadow flax, is a species of flowering plant in the flax family (Linaceae
Linaceae is a family of flowering plants. The family is cosmopolitan, and includes about 250 species in 14 genera, classified into tw ...
'' – meadow flax
*''
Linum puberulum
''Linum puberulum'' is a species of flax known by the common name plains flax. It is native to the western and midwestern United States from California to Nebraska to Texas, where it grows in dry, open habitat including desert, semi-desert, hills ...
'' – plains flax
*''
Linum pubescens
''Linum pubescens'', the hairy pink flax, is an herbaceous flowering plant in the genus ''Linum
''Linum'' (flax) is a genus of approximately 200 species[Linum rigidum
''Linum'' (flax) is a genus of approximately 200 species][''Linum''.]
The Jepson Manual. ...
'' -– stiffstem flax
*''
'' – rock flax
*''
'' – Schiede's flax
*''
Linum strictum
''Linum strictum'', commonly known as rigid flax, upright flax, and upright yellow flax, is a species of flax that has a rigid stem, from whence it derives its taxonomic name, growing to a height of 10–45 cm. The plant is endemic to the Medite ...
'' – ridged yellow flax
*''
'' – Sprucemont flax, slenderfoot flax
*''
Linum suffruticosum
''Linum suffruticosum'', the white flax or Pyrenean flax, is a species of flowering plant in the family Linaceae
Linaceae is a family of flowering plants. The family is cosmopolitan, and includes about 250 species in 14 genera, classified into ...
''
*''
Linum sulcatum
Linum sulcatum, common names yellow flax, grooved yellow flax, grooved flax, and yellow wild flax is a plant native to the United States and Canada.
Conservation status in the United States
It is listed as endangered in Connecticut, '' – grooved flax
*''
''
*''
Linum trigynum
''Linum trigynum'', the French flax, is a species of annual herb in the family Linaceae. It is native to Southern Europe, Western Asia, North Africa, the Horn of Africa and some oceanic islands, such as Madeira, Canary Islands and Socotra
So ...
'' – French flax
*''
Linum ucranicum
''Linum ucranicum'' is a species of flowering plant in the flax genus '' Linum'', family Linaceae
Linaceae is a family of flowering plants. The family is cosmopolitan, and includes about 250 species in 14 genera, classified into two subfamilie ...
''
*''
Linum usitatissimum'' – common cultivated flax
*''
'' – Chihuahuan flax
*''
Linum virginianum'' – woodland flax
*''
Linum westii'' – West's flax
References
External links
IPNI Query''Linum lepagei'' type sheetfrom Louis-Marie Herbarium (
Laval University).
The Flax Council of Canada
{{Taxonbar, from=Q161100
Malpighiales genera