Plant Profile: Linum usitatissimum

Taxonomy: Linum usitatissimum

Names

Flax

  • Photo of Linum usitatissimum (Linum usitatissimums)

Phonetic Spelling:LY-num yoo-sit-ah-TIS-sih-mum

Genus:Linum

Species:usitatissimum

Family:Linaceae

A slender, upright annual herb featuring simple, alternate leaves that are narrow and have smooth edges. The flowers are pale blue, consisting of five petals that are broad and spread out. The fruit takes the form of a capsule.

Linum usitatissimum Feature Summary

Linum usitatissimum Image Gallery

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Linum usitatissimum Feature Summary

Attributes
Flowers
Flower Description:
Pale blue, 5-parted, the petals broad and spreading
Flower Petals:
4-5 petals/rays
Leaves
Leaf Description:
Simple, alternate, narrow, and smooth-margined
Poisonous to Humans
Poison Symptoms:
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR, OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Linseed oil may cause skin irritation upon contact. Ingestion causes difficulty of breathing, paralysis, and convulsions.
Poison Toxic Principle:
Cyanogenic glycoside (linomarin)
Poison Part:
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Sap/Juice
Flowers
Bark
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Plant Type:
Annual
Poisonous
Fruit
Stem
Landscape
Landscape Location:
Naturalized Area
Problems:
Poisonous to Humans
Weedy
Contact Dermatitis

Linum usitatissimum Image Gallery

Photo of Linum usitatissimum - :

Linum usitatissimum Attributes

Linum usitatissimum: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe

Linum usitatissimum: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Linum usitatissimum Flowers

Linum usitatissimum: Flower Description

Pale blue, 5-parted, the petals broad and spreading

Linum usitatissimum: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Blue

Linum usitatissimum: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Linum usitatissimum: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Linum usitatissimum Leaves

Linum usitatissimum: Leaf Description

Simple, alternate, narrow, and smooth-margined

Linum usitatissimum: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Linum usitatissimum: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Linum usitatissimum: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Linum usitatissimum: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Linum usitatissimum: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Linum usitatissimum Poisonous to Humans

Linum usitatissimum: Poison Symptoms

TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR, OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Linseed oil may cause skin irritation upon contact. Ingestion causes difficulty of breathing, paralysis, and convulsions.

Linum usitatissimum: Poison Toxic Principle

Cyanogenic glycoside (linomarin)

Linum usitatissimum: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Linum usitatissimum: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Linum usitatissimum: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Linum usitatissimum Whole Plant Traits

Linum usitatissimum: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Linum usitatissimum: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Linum usitatissimum Fruit

Linum usitatissimum: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Linum usitatissimum Stem

Linum usitatissimum: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Linum usitatissimum Landscape

Linum usitatissimum: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Linum usitatissimum: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy