Reinwardtia

plant genus

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Reinwardtia is a small genus of East Indian undershrubs belonging to the flax family, Linaceae. These plants are characterized by alternate, large leaves and yellow flowers with petals that quickly fall off.1

One notable species is R. indica, also known as yellow flax. It is primarily grown in greenhouses or outdoors in warmer climates and is recognized for its abundant, large yellow flowers that bloom in late fall and early winter. The genus name Reinwardtia honors the Dutch botanist Caspar G. C. Reinwardt.21

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Linaceae
Reinwardtia species are primarily low shrubs, grown in greenhouses and outdoors in warm climates; R. indica, the yellow flax, is notable for its large yellow flowers, borne in profusion in late fall and early winter.
Read More
Reinwardtia species are primarily low shrubs, grown in greenhouses and outdoors in warm climates; R. indica, the yellow flax, is notable for its large yellow flowers, borne in profusion in late fall and early winter.
Read More