Linen is an extremely strong, lightweight fabric made fro flax plant, part of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is a natural fiber, like cotton, but it takes longer to harvest and make into fabric, as flax fiber can be difficult to weave. The fibers are extracted from the plant stored for long period of time time to soften the fibers. Linen is a common material used for towels, tablecloths napkins, and bedsheets.