Camelina is a small genus of annual or biennial herbs in the family Brassicaceae (the mustard family), order Brassicales. Commonly called false flax, the genus comprises eight accepted species native to Mediterranean regions of Europe and Asia. Heinrich Johann Nepomuk von Crantz first formally applied the genus name in 1762.
Plants are typically upright herbs with simple, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic leaves. The flowers are hermaphroditic and actinomorphic, borne in racemes and colored yellowish. Seeds develop in dehiscent siliques (elongated seed pods characteristic of the mustard family).
Most species in the genus remain poorly studied. The notable exception is Camelina sativa, which has a long history as a cultivated oil crop and has attracted modern interest as a source of biofuel. In 2010 the United States Navy tested a 50-50 blend of conventional jet aviation fuel and biofuel derived from camelina seeds.
Etymology
The genus name Camelina derives from the Greek words for "ground" and "flax," a reference to the plant's habit of growing as a weed among flax crops, where it was observed to suppress flax growth.
Distribution
Camelina species are native to Mediterranean regions of Europe and Asia. The most economically important species, C. sativa, has been cultivated widely beyond its native range and has naturalized in parts of North America and elsewhere.
History
Camelina sativa has been cultivated since at least ancient times as an oil-seed crop in Europe and Asia. The genus was first formally described by Heinrich Johann Nepomuk von Crantz in 1762. In the early 21st century, C. sativa attracted renewed attention as a feedstock for aviation biofuel; the US Navy conducted flight tests using a 50-50 camelina–kerosene blend in 2010, though economic analyses published in 2016 found camelina jet fuel cost-prohibitive without substantial government subsidy.
Cultivation
Camelina sativa is the only species in the genus with significant cultivation history. It is grown as an annual oil-seed crop, valued for its relatively low input requirements and cold tolerance. Seeds are harvested for their oil, which is used in food, cosmetics, animal feed, and as a biofuel feedstock.
