Volume 6 > Part 3 > Year 1997 > Page 192 > Linaceae > Linum

Linum usitatissimum L.wfo-0000366385

Sp. Pl. 277. 1753; Hook.f. in Fl. Br. Ind. 1: 410; 1874. Fig. 86.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Annual or biennial, erect herb; stems erect, solitary up to 1 m, rarely taller. Leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, 10–50 by 2–5 mm, acute, 3-nerved. Pedicels erect. Sepals broadly elliptic-ovate, acuminate, eglandular, 5–10 mm; margins ciliate or not. Petals blue, 10–15 mm. Styles free; stigmas linear-clavate. Capsule spherical, 7–10 mm. Seeds compressed, brown; testa slimy when moistened.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Chiang Mai (Fang), cult.

Distribution : Origin uncertain, not known in the wild but widely cultivated for its fibers and oil from seeds. Numerous cultivars are grown in the temperate or subtropical parts of the world (type Europe, cult.).

Vernacular : Linin (ลินิน)(Central); hu-mua (หู่มั่ว)(Chinese-Central).

CommonName : Flax.

Uses: Fibers used under the name of flax; oil from seed used under the name of linseed oil. The fruiting specimens are also harvested from Doi Inthanon and exported as dried “flowers”