Description

Name: Linseeds or flax Seeds

Scientific Name:  Linum usitatissimum

Common Names: Common Flax, Linseed, Brown Flax Seed, Echter Lein, Alashi

is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. Flax is grown both for its seeds and for its fiber.

Flax is an erect annual plant growing to 1.2 m (3 ft *1 in) tall, with slender stems. The leaves are glaucous green, slender lanceolate, ***0 mm long and 3 mm broad. The flowers are pure pale blue, ***5 mm diameter, with five petals; they can also be bright red.

The fruit is a round, dry capsule *9 mm diameter, containing several glossy brown seeds shaped like an apple pip, *7 mm long.In addition to referring to the plant itself, the word "flax" may refer to the unspun fibres of the flax plant.

Cullinary Uses:

Flax seed is used for industrial applications, with two of the more common products being Linseed oil and Linoleum.

Flax seed is the source of linseed oil, which is used as an edible oil, nutritional supplement, Animal feed and as an ingredient in many wood finishing products

Flax seed oil is an important ingredient in paints, varnishes, and linoleum.

Various parts of the plant have been used to make fabric, dye, paper, medicines, fishing nets, hair gels, cloths, ropes and soap.