Herbs or small shrubs. Leaves alternate or opposite, simple, usually entire; stipules minute or none. Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual, 5-merous, hypogynous, in cymose or racemose clusters. Sepals 5, free, imbricate. Petals 5, free or connate below, imbricate, twisted in bud, soon falling off; glands present or absent, opposite the petals. Stamens 5-10, alternate, with 5 small staminodes, united at base, anthers 2-celled, versatile. Ovary free, superior, 2-5-locular, ovules 2 in each loculus, separated by a perfect or imperfect partition, placentation axile; styles 3-5 or sometimes more, united at base; stigmas capitate. Fruit usually a septicidal capsule, separating into 5 or 10 valves. Seeds small, 2 or 1 in each cell, compressed, shiny.

9 genera and 284 species

Linum grandiflorum

Linum usitatissimum