ILLINOIS PLANT INFORMATION NETWORK
 
 ILPIN INFORMATION ON    Linum usitatissimum
 
 
 CLASS:    DICOTYLEDENAE
 ORDER:    LINALES
 FAMILY:   LINACEAE
 SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Linum usitatissimum
 AUTHORITY:  L.
 
 COMMON NAMES:
    COMMON FLAX
 
 SYNONOMY:   None
 
 PLANTS CODE: LIUS
 
 NATURAL COMMUNITIES:
     CULTURAL
       DEVELOPED LAND
 
 SAF FOREST COVER TYPE:  UNAVAILABLE
 
 NATURAL DIVISION:  UNAVAILABLE
 
 COUNTIES:
   ADAMS           BOONE           CHAMPAIGN       CHRISTIAN       COLES
   COOK            DEKALB          DOUGLAS         DUPAGE          GREENE
   JACKSON         JO DAVIESS      KANE            KENDALL         LEE
   MACOUPIN        MARION          PEORIA          ST. CLAIR       SANGAMON
   STARK           TAZEWELL        WILL            WINNEBAGO
 
 GROWTH FORM:  Dicot-herb
 
 TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS:
    ROOTS:  Primary
    LEAF ARRANGEMENT:   Alternate
    LEAF TYPE:   Simple
    LEAF MARGIN:   Entire
    LEAF VENATION:  Pinnate
    LEAF SHAPE:     Linear   Lanceolate
    INFLORESCENCE:   Solitary- few
    FLOWER MEROUS:  5
    FLOWER STRUCTURE:   Complete   Regular
    FLOWER COLOR:   Blue
    FLOWER PLACEMENT:  Hypogynous
    FRUIT:   Capsule
 
 DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC COMMENTS:
     Leaves are numerous, three-nerved.
 
 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
     ORIGIN:   Introduced-  Europe
 
 POPULATION DYNAMICS:
     STATE STATUS: Not listed
     FEDERAL STATUS: Not listed
     COMMONNESS:  Occasional
     ENDEMIC:   NOT-ENDEMIC
 
 BIOLOGIC:
     HABIT:   Forb
     LIFE CYCLE:   Annual
     REPRODUCTION:   Sexual
     FLOWERING PERIOD:
         MONTH BEGINNING-      5         MONTH END-      8
     TROPHIC STATUS:  Autotrophic
     C02 FIXATION:  C3
     SEX:      Perfect
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS:   No data entered
 
 FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
     MYCORRHIZAE:   endomycorrhizal
 
 HUMAN RELATIONSHIP DATA:
     SHOWY FLOWERS:  NO     LANDSCAPING:  NO
 
 HUMAN FACTOR COMMENTS:
     Stem fibers are used for a variety of cloths, thread, twine; seeds
     are used for linseed oil.
 
 WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK INFORMATION:
     FOOD VALUE:
         DEER VALUE:  Unknown
         UPLAND GAME VALUE:  Unknown
         WATERFOWL VALUE:  Unknown
         SMALL NON-GAME BIRD VALUE:   -   Fruit
         SMALL MAMMAL VALUE:  Unknown
         AQUATIC MAMMAL VALUE:  Unknown
         FISH VALUE:  Unknown
     COVER VALUE:  No data entered
 
 LIVESTOCK PALATABILITY DATA:
     CATTLE FORAGE: No data    SHEEP FORAGE:  No data    HORSE FORAGE:  No data
     GOAT FORAGE:   No data    ENERGY VALUE:  No data    PROTEIN VALUE: No data
     POISONOUS (LIVESTOCK):   Yes       -minor
 
 LIVESTOCK COMMENTS:
     Linseed cake is used in stock feeds; some cases of cattle and pig
     poisoning have occurred from feed with flax screenings.
 
 REVEGETATION PLANTINGS:
     WEEDINESS:   Non-weedy
 
 
 
 REFERENCES:
Mohlenbrock, R. H., ed.  1975.  Guide to the vascular flora of Illinois.
     Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale.  494 pp.
Jones, G. N.  1963.  Flora of Illinois.  Third ed.  American Midland Naturalist
     Monograph 7.  University of Notre Dame, Indiana.  401 pp.
Steyermark, J. A.  1963.  Flora of Missouri.  Iowa State University Press, Ames.
     1725 pp.
Gleason, H. A., and A. Cronquist.  1963.  Manual of vascular plants of north-
     eastern United States and adjacent Canada.  Van Nostrand Reinhold Co.,
     New York.  810 pp.
Fernald, M. L.  1950.  Gray's manual of botany.  8th ed.  American Book Co.,
     New York.  1632 pp.
Swink, F., and G. S. Wilhelm.  1979.  Plants of the Chicago region.  Third ed.
     The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois.  922 pp.
Downton, W. J. S.  1975.  The occurrence of C4 photosynthesis among plants.
     Photosynthetica 9(1): 96-105.
 
 END OF DATA FOR SPECIES  Linum usitatissimum
 
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 ILPIN was developed by Louis Iverson*, with data compiled by David Ketzner and Jeanne Karnes
 Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
     *currently employed by USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015