Practical
Plants

Linum catharticum

Purging Flax

an annual member of the Linum genus in the family Linaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Linaceae
Genus
Linum
Life cycle
annual
Height
0.25 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Flies, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Poisonous in large doses[3].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Purging flax was often used in the past as a gentle laxative, and also for the treatment of muscular rheumatism, liver complaints, jaundice and catarrhal problems[5][4], though it is seldom used in modern herbalism[4]. The whole herb is anthelmintic, diuretic, emetic and purgative[5][7][3][6]. It is harvested in the summer as it comes into flower and can be dried for later use[5]. When used as a purgative it is generally taken with a carminative such as peppermint[5]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant. It is used in the treatment of bronchitis, piles and amenorrhoea[7].

Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Purgative

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Spain the Caucasus and Iran.
Habitat
Grassland, dunes and moors[7], most commonly on calcareous grassland[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow early spring in situ.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a light well-drained moderately fertile humus-rich soil in a sunny sheltered position[2].

References

  1. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  2. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  3. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  4. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2

  5. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  7. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

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