common flax

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• flax
• linseed
• common flax
• cultivated flax
• Lan
• Linen flax

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Linum usitatissimum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Malpighiales and the family Linaceae. Finally, it is situated within the genus Linum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its range extends to include both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species can be found within the borders of Belgium. It also maintains a significant distribution throughout Germany. Finally, its geographical reach encompasses the territories of Czechia and Slovakia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Linum usitatissimum is characterized by its wide adaptability across diverse topographical gradients, spanning an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends to a maximum altitude of 3000 m AMSL. On average, the species thrives at a mean elevation of 800 m AMSL, indicating a preference for mid-altitude environments while maintaining the capacity to colonize both lowlands and montane regions. In terms of its primary environment, the plant is most commonly found situated within crop fields, where it integrates into managed agricultural landscapes.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields

Life history

The life history of Linum usitatissimum is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire biological cycle—from germination and vegetative growth to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its survival strategy relies on producing a high volume of seeds that persist in the soil to ensure the continuation of the species after the parent plant dies at the end of its cycle. This life history pattern allows the species to exploit favorable environmental conditions rapidly, focusing its metabolic energy on quick maturation and prolific seed dispersal rather than the development of long-term woody structures or perennial organs.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Linum usitatissimum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant exhibits an ascending shoot orientation and is self-supporting rather than being a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1.2 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.67 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.2 m

Plant height mean:

0.666666666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Linum usitatissimum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic adaptation to standard environmental carbon fixation processes. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake through its root system rather than specialized trapping mechanisms. The vegetative morphology is defined by an alternate leaf arrangement, where the leaves exhibit an elliptic form. These leaves vary significantly in dimension, with a minimum length of 1 cm and a maximum length of 4 cm, maintaining an average length of 3 cm. In terms of width, the leaves range from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 0.55 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of 0.415 cm². Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 468.35 cm²/g, an indicator of its leaf thickness and its efficiency in light interception and resource allocation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

4 cm

Leaf length mean:

3 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf size mean:

0.415 cm²

Leaf width max:

0.55 cm

Leaf width min:

0.1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

468.35 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Linum usitatissimum is characterized by a sexual process within bisexual flowers that are arranged in a paniculate inflorescence. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in July, featuring blue-colored flowers that range in length from 1.2 cm to 2 cm. These flowers utilize a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate fertilization, although self-fertilization is also present. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry, capsule-type fruits. These capsules vary in size, with an average length of 0.7 cm (ranging from 0.6 cm to 1.2 cm) and an average width of 0.825 cm (ranging from 0.6 cm to 0.9 cm). The resulting seeds are small, with a mean length of 4.5 mm (ranging from 4.5 mm to 6 mm) and a mean volume of 5.8 mm³. The seed mass is quite light, averaging 0.004459 g, with a range between 0.00193 g and 0.00787 g. Dispersal of the seeds occurs through both anemochorous (wind) and anthropochorous (human) syndromes, and the plant does not exhibit any asexual reproductive methods.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

blue

Flower length max:

2 cm

Flower length min:

1.2 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

1.2 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.7 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.9 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.825 cm

Fruit width min:

0.6 cm

Inflorescence :

panicle

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

6 mm

Seed length mean:

4.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00787 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00445906666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00193 g

Seed volume max:

5.8 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Linum usitatissimum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia
2. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Reviews in the neurosciences
4. World journal of gastroenterology
5. Archiv der Pharmazie

Chemicals

Linum usitatissimum has 215 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Lignans, Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, Flavonoids, alpha-Linolenic acid.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

1. Experimental and clinical endocrinology & diabetes : official journal, German Society of Endocrinology [and] German Diabetes Association
2. Biomedical journal
3. Journal of diabetes and its complications
4. Heliyon
5. Neurochemistry international

Lignans

1. Dr. Duke
2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Scientific reports
5. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences

Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside

1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
2. Journal of natural products
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
5. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Flavonoids

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of the science of food and agriculture
3. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
4. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

alpha-Linolenic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food and drug analysis
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Animal biotechnology

linoleic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food and drug analysis
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Toxicology reports

Linustatin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food and drug analysis
3. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Neolinustatin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food and drug analysis
3. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Phytoestrogens

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. Veterinary medicine and science
3. Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society

methionine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences

Activities

Linum usitatissimum has 636 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Analgesic, Antiarrhythmic, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Voprosy pitaniia

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
3. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine

Antiarrhythmic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences

Antimitotic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Bacteriostatic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Hypocholesterolemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Voprosy pitaniia

Medicinal Uses

Linum usitatissimum has 63 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, breast cancer, insulin resistance.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations