Family · Rosids

Linaceae

Flax

Flax family: herbs and shrubs, most notably flax, the source of linen fibre and linseed oil.

Accepted species: 284accepted names · Kew WCVP
Genera: 9accepted genera · Kew WCVP
Origin: ≈57 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
Centre of diversity: Asia-Temperatemost native species · WGSRPD

Open Linaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.

Plants you might know

Linum (flax)
Reinwardtia

Genera

Linum215 spp.
Hugonia48 spp.
Roucheria7 spp.
Tirpitzia4 spp.
Hebepetalum3 spp.
Reinwardtia3 spp.
Anisadenia2 spp.
Indorouchera1 spp.
Radiola1 spp.

Where it grows

Asia-Temperate81
Africa69
Europe62
Northern America57
Southern America36
Asia-Tropical24
Pacific10
Australasia3

Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.

Related families

Linaceae sits in the order Malpighiales.