Linaceae (Flax Family)
The European Common Flax has been used by humans for thousands of years. It's long fibers are used to make linen, the oldest known textile. The fibers are used also for nets and ropes, and the seeds are pressed to obtain linseed oil. The left over seed husks and fiber-less plant material is used for cattle feed. It's latin name, Linum usitatissium, means "of maximum usefulness".
Linaceae in our area have flowers of 5 separate petals (which often fall away early), 5 nearly separate sepals, and five stamens, which alternate with the petals and join at the base to create a low collar. The pistil has 5 divisions length-wise, each of which produces 2 flattened seeds.
On Montara Mountain, members of Linaceae include the Western Blue Flax (Linum perrene) and the Narrow Leaf Flax (Linum bienne).
