Linum usitatissimum L.

 
  • Family : LINACEAE
    (Flax Family)
  • Family (Hindi name) : JANGLI ALSI FAMILY (जंगली अलसी फैमिली)
  • Family (as per The APG System III) : Linaceae
  • Species Name (as per The IPNI) : Linum usitatissimum L.
  • Common name : Flax seeds, Linseed
  • Vernacular name :
    • Alsi, Thisi (Hindi)
    • Avisi (Telugu)
    • Pesu (Oria)
    • Jawas, Alsi (Marathi)
    • Alshi (Tamil)
  • Habit : Herb
  • Habitat : Cultivated
  • Comments / notes : Found in wild as an escape. Seed oil is extensively used in paints and lubricants
  • Key identification features : Leaves linear lanceolate; Flowers blue; Capsule scarcely exceeding the sepals.
  • Flower, Fruit : January-October
  • Distribution :
    • Odisha : Odisha
    • Tamil Nadu : Tamil Nadu
    • Himachal Pradesh : Kangra district, Kinnaur district, Lahaul & Spiti district
    • Delhi : Delhi
    • Haryana : Haryana
    • Punjab : Punjab
  • Native : Iran, Iraq, Lebanon-Syria, North Caucasus, Transcaucasus, Turkey
  • Exotic/Native : Exotic
  • World Distribution : Iran, Iraq, Lebanon-Syria, North Caucasus, Transcaucasus, Turkey
  • Conservation Status : Not Evaluated (NE)
  • Literature :
    • Pullaiah et al., 2002 - Flora of Eastern Ghats Vol. 1
    • H.O. Saxena & M. Brahmam, 1994- Flora of Orissa Vol. 1
    • H. O. Saxena and M. Brahmam, 1989 - The Flora of Similipahar (Similipal), Orissa
    • Henry, Kumari & Chithra (1983). Flora of Tamil Nadu, India vol. 1.
    • Maheshwari K.J (1963). Flora of Delhi: 90
    • H J, Chowdhery, et al. Flora of Himachal Pradesh. Volume 1, Botanical Survey of India, 1984. Pg.: 124
  • Read more :
  • Citation : Sankara Rao, K., Deepak Kumar (2024). India Flora Online. http://indiafloraonline-ces.iisc.ac.in/plants.php?name=Linum usitatissimum. Downloaded on 19 February 2025.

Botanical Description

Herbarium Specimen(s)

Line Drawings

Field Image(s)

India Distribution

World Distribution

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