ExplorePlants

Flax

Flax is a plant that has delicate blue flowers and produces seeds used to make linen fabric. It grows tall and sways gently in the breeze, attracting bees and butterflies with its sweet nectar.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Flax has slender, upright green stems topped with delicate sky-blue flowers that open for just one day. Its narrow leaves cling close to the stem, giving it a light, airy appearance. Small, rounded seed pods follow the fleeting blooms.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsida

Flax

Interesting facts

Did you know flax oil can be used to make natural paints and wood finishes?

Flax fibers are so strong, they were used to wrap ancient Egyptian mummies!

Flax seeds burst open with a tiny pop when they're ripe and ready to spread!

The word "linen" comes from flax, as this amazing fabric is made from its stems!

Special abilities

Flax has incredibly strong plant fibers in its stems that humans have used for textiles for thousands of years.

Flax seeds are packed with healthy oils and nutrients, making them a valuable food source for many creatures.

Flax can produce new flowers daily during its bloom season, ensuring continuous chances for pollination and seed production.

Measurements & details

Height: 60-120 cm
Spread: 15-30 cm
Flower Size: 1.5-2.5 cm
Bloom Season: Summer
Edible: Yes
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Annual
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.

eats

European Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis

Feeds on nutritious flax seeds.

parasitizes

Flax Rust

Melampsora lini

A fungus that causes disease in flax plants.

pollinates

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

Another important pollinator of flax flowers.

Traits

Spring Blooming

Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.

Broadleaf Tree

Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.

Fiber

This human use trait identifies species that yield natural fibers, used by humans for textiles, rope, paper, and other manufactured goods.

Oil Crop

This human use trait identifies species cultivated as oil crops, harvested for their seeds or fruits from which vegetable oils are extracted for food, fuel, or industrial uses.