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Linum contains between 150 and 200 species
Plants occupy warm regions of the northern hemisphere - most commonly found in Europe and Asia but also found in America
It is believed that Linum originally arose in India
Widespread cultivation resulted in the spread of seeds into new areas. Linum was brought to America during the British colinization
L. usitatissimum (common flax) is largely cultivated for use of the fibers, seeds (either whole or the oil extract), and the entire plant
Good fiber development requires moderate rainfall, thus plants growing in dry areas are used mainly for their seeds
Humans have been breeding flax since 1900 - this has introduced new variety to the genus
Flax is widely imported in the United States (1 billion pounds in 1935)
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photo by: James Manhart
Linum rigidum
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