Which plant is used to make linen?

Linen is a textile manufactured from flax plant fibers. Linen is more durable and absorbent than cotton, and it dries faster. Because of these qualities, linen is popular for use in clothing and is comfortable to wear in hot weather. Other distinguishing features include its proclivity to wrinkle. Linen textiles appear to be among the oldest in the world, with a history dating back thousands of years. Dyed flax fibers discovered in a cave in Southeastern Europe (present-day Georgia) indicate that woven linen garments made from wild flax may have been used for over 30,000 years.

Linen was employed in ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia and Egypt, and the Bible mentions linen. The linen industry was vital in the economics of various European countries as well as the American colonies in the 18th century and beyond. Textiles with a linen weave texture are also referred to as "linen", even if they are composed of cotton, hemp, or other non-flax fibers.