# 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.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands
- **Also known as:** Linum

![Flax](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Linum_usitatissimum_001.JPG&width=800)

Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Linum_usitatissimum_001.JPG)

## 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.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida

## 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

- **Super Strength Weave:** Flax has incredibly strong plant fibers in its stems that humans have used for textiles for thousands of years.
- **Nutrient Powerhouse:** Flax seeds are packed with healthy oils and nutrients, making them a valuable food source for many creatures.
- **Daily Bloom Magic:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
- [Fiber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fiber): This human use trait identifies species that yield natural fibers, used by humans for textiles, rope, paper, and other manufactured goods.
- [Oil Crop](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)
- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Enjoy looking at flax plants but avoid picking or eating any part without adult supervision.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Flax?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Flax?

60-120 cm

### How wide does Flax spread?

15-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on Flax?

1.5-2.5 cm

### When does Flax bloom?

Summer

### Is Flax edible?

Yes

### Is Flax toxic?

None

### What is Flax's lifecycle?

Annual

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Flax: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/flax)