Linum

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Linum
Linum pubescens
Linum pubescens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Linaceae
Genus: Linum

Linum (flax) is a genus of about 200 species of flowering plants in the family Linaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Among many other species, it includes the Common Flax (L. usitatissimum), the bast fibre of which is used to produce linen.

The flowers are light blue or white (yellow in some species) and there is an average of 6-10 seeds per boll.

Linum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Cabbage Moth, The Nutmeg, Setaceous Hebrew Character and Coleophora benedictella, which feeds exclusively on Linum narbonense.

Selected species

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