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LINACEAE

FLAX FAMILY

Niall F. McCarten

Annual, perennial herb, shrub
Stem generally erect, branched, glabrous, hairy, or glandular
Leaves generally cauline, alternate, opposite, or whorled, simple, sessile, generally linear to ovate; stipules glandular or 0
Inflorescence: raceme or cyme, axillary, open to dense
Flower generally bisexual, radial, nodding in bud; sepals 4–5, free, glabrous, hairy, or margins gland-toothed; petals 4–5, free, blue, white, yellow, or pink, ephemeral; stamens 4–5, alternate petals, generally appendaged; staminodes alternate stamens or 0; ovary superior, chambers 2–5 but becoming 4–10 by growth of false septa, styles 2–5
Fruit: generally capsule
Genera in family: 13 genera, 300 species: worldwide, especially temp; some cultivated (Linum usitatissimum , flax, linseed; L. bienne, L. grandiflorum , ornamental)
Reference: [Robertson 1971 J Arnold Arbor 52: 649–665]
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