Linaceae

Linaceae, commonly known as the flax family, is a small to medium family of flowering plants in the order Malpighiales. It comprises roughly 230–260 species in 18 genera, distributed mainly in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with some species in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The largest genus is Linum, which includes Linum usitatissimum, the cultivated flax.

Flax is grown for its fibrous stems, producing linen, and for the seeds, which yield linseed oil and are used in foods and supplements. Other Linaceae genera include Hesperolinon and Radiola (Radiola linoides), among several herbaceous taxa.

Plants in Linaceae are predominantly herbaceous annuals and perennials. Leaves are simple, alternate, and often linear to lanceolate. Flowers are small to medium-sized, with five free petals and typically showy colors such as blue, white, or yellow; they are usually solitary or in small cymes. The ovary is often superior, and the fruit is a dry capsule containing small seeds.

Ecology and distribution: species occupy open habitats, grasslands, rocky slopes, and dry soils, from lowlands to alpine zones. Some species are adapted to Mediterranean climates.

Taxonomy and phylogeny: Linaceae belongs to the order Malpighiales. The family is characterized by its floral morphology and the production of flax fiber in Linum.

Etymology: The name Linaceae derives from Linum, the flax genus.