Flax

Botanical name: Linum usitatissimum

Family: Linaceae

Parts used: Fibres are formed in the pricycle which are aggregates of many long pointed cells with very thick cellulose walls.

Economic importance

1. Flax is superior to cotton in quality and yields a finer fabric suck as cambrics, damasks and sheetings, laces for apparel and household furnishing and linen threads. Garments made from flax ar e among the coolest of all fabrics as they conduct heat from body much more rapidly than cotton.

2. Coarser grades are used for canvas, towelling, bagging and industrial sewing threads (for book binding threads, in making fishing lines and nets and for sewing shoes).

3. Coarse fibres are used in the manufacture of cigarette paper, the fines writing paper and insulating material.

4. Short and tangled fibres called 'Tow ' is used n coarser and cheaper fabric and for stuffing purposes.

5. Flax is also grown for its seed, which is used in medicine and as the source of linseed oil.