| Flax is a fairly tall and slender plant that | | | | through the production of flax fiber. For |
| features vivid green leaves and vibrant pale | | | | example, a major component of the fabric |
| blue flowers. Flax, both in its pure plant | | | | linen is flax fiber. It is believed that |
| form as well are from its seeds and fibers, | | | | humans have been using flax fiber to make |
| has an astonishing array of uses. Flax is | | | | clothing for thousands of years, so it is |
| used in such diverse applications as | | | | clear that flax fiber has some serious |
| foodstuffs, clothing, medications and | | | | staying power. Flax fiber is extracted from |
| nutritional supplements, and flax once even | | | | the derma of the flax stem, and it is used in |
| has some automotive uses before the advent of | | | | products such as clothing, rope, bank notes, |
| automotive synthetics. While flax can be | | | | and even cigarette papers. |
| grown in a wide variety of locations, it is | | | | |
| most commonly produced commercially in | | | | Flax is primarily cultivated in northern |
| northern Europe, most notably in Ireland and | | | | Europe. Flax is harvested while still green |
| several of the former members of the Soviet | | | | as the quality of flax fiber quickly declines |
| Union. | | | | once the flax seeds reach maturity. Unlike |
| | | | many other agricultural products, flax is not |
| The seeds of the flax plant are used in a | | | | cut--rather, flax is pulled up from the |
| number of ways. For instance, the oil of the | | | | ground with the roots intact in order to |
| flax seed is useful as a drying agent in | | | | achieve the maximum fiber length. After |
| various kinds of paints and varnishes. | | | | harvest, flax undergoes threshing. Threshing |
| Additionally, since flax seed oil is high in | | | | involves the use of machines to separate out |
| omega-3 fatty acids (an important nutrient | | | | the important parts of the flax plant--the |
| found most commonly in fish that is lacking | | | | wood, the fiber, and the seed. |
| in many American diets) the extract of the | | | | |
| flax seed can be used as a source of Omega-3 | | | | Flax is one of the most diverse cultivated |
| either in its pure form or, more commonly, as | | | | plants in the world. The uses of flax and |
| a component of a nutritional supplement. | | | | flax by-product range from food and |
| Flax seed can also be eaten, and many | | | | nutritional supplements to the use of its |
| cultures have utilized it as a food source, | | | | fibrous components in ropes, twine, and |
| as well as for livestock feed. Flax extract | | | | clothing. While flax is rarely consumed |
| can also be used as a binding agent and can | | | | directly (though parts of the flax plant are |
| therefore replace eggs in baking recipes. | | | | edible), the seeds as well as flax seed |
| | | | extract are a common component in many foods. |
| Flax finds most of its more visible uses | | | | |