Flax is grown for its seed and fibre. It is one of the oldest textile fibres. There is evidence that it was grown and used in the prehistoric lake dwellings of Switzerland. Fine linen fabrics made from flax have also been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs. Later it was found that the seed and its oil had important health benefits.
This article can also be found at Feed Tech, volume 9, no. 5
Keywords: Oilseeds,
flax, omega-3, fatty acids, health improvement