WordNet
matrilinear
adj. based on or tracing descent through the female line; "matrilineal inheritance" [syn: matrilineal]
Usage examples of "matrilinear".
And you're likely to end up with a matrilinear culture in that instance—and a very small directorate if it's by kinships.
The merchanters, the faster-than-light freighters, are huge ships, some of the largest being veritable spacefaring villages run by a hierachy of captains, one for each shift, and are matrilinear (but not matriarchal) due to the lifestyle.