Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Flax and relatives
LINACEAE
The flax family is made up of several genera and a total of about 90 species; these are found
around the world, with the greatest species diversity in the southwest of North America and
in the Mediterranean region. Everything from herbs to trees can be found in this family.
Plants are generally easy to grow, thriving even on nutrient-poor soils; leaves are simple and
alternate, and flowers are radial with a double whorl (perianth). Some family members are
wild plants native to Europe: fairy flax (
Linum catharticum
) is found in calcareous grass-
lands and low-moor bogs. The endangered yellow flax (
L. flavum
) is found in dry grasslands
and forest edges. One of the most important oil and fiber crops in human history, flax itself,
is of course also a member. Several species are grown as ornamentals, such as the annual red,
scarlet, or crimson flax (
L. grandifolium
) or the perennial blue flax (
L. perenne
), with its
large, pure blue, funnel-shaped flowers. It is worth noting that toadflax (
Linaria
spp.), an or-
namental, belongs not to this but to the plantain family (Plantaginaceae).
FLAX, LINSEED
Linum usitatissimum
Flax seeds, linseed oil, linen: all come from the same plant. Fiber flax (convar.
elongatum
) produces
little-branched stalks up to 3 ft. (1 m) long, from which fibers are obtained and spun to make the prized
textile linen. Oilseed flax (convar.
mediterraneum
), a low-growing, bushy plant with many seed cap-
sules, is grown for its large, oil-rich seeds. Flax or linseed oil is a nutritional edible, high in linoleic and
linolenic acids; it can also be used for technical purposes, as it dries quickly (boiled linseed oil). Seeds
of both forms can be used, but fiber flax seeds are smaller.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
• 50 to 100 plants
POLLINATION NOTES
Flax self-pollinates, though insects can (rarely) cause cross-pollination. There
are both spring and winter flax varieties (these last are favored in the Alps), and multiple varieties can
be grown a few yards (a few meters) apart and still be kept pure. The tender plants produce white, pink,
or blue flowers and add an ornamental note to the vegetable garden.
GROWING FOR SEED
Fiber flax thrives best in a temperate, moist climate, oilseed flax in a hot, dry cli-
mate. Spring flax should be sown as early as possible (early to mid spring), as it is a long-day plant that
may not flower if sown too late. Flax seeds germinate at temperatures as low as 36-37°F (2-3°C) and
