Flax Linum ustatissimum History

1
FlaxLinum ustatissimumHistory

• Native to eastern Mediterranean and India
• First cultivated in the Fertile Crescent as early
  as 6000 BC
• Flax remnant was found in Stone Age dwellings in
  Switzerland
• Heavily cultivated for fiber in linen production
  in ancient Egypt

2
FlaxLinum ustatissimumIdentification

• One heavily branched fine stem
• Averages 24-36 tall
• Tap root up to 40 long
• Lanceloate leaves
• Deep green
• Slender

3
FlaxLinum ustatissimumIdentification

• Seed
• Produced in round capsules
• Contain about 6 seeds
• Flat oblong seeds

• Flowers
• Five petals
• Blue to white

4
FlaxLinum ustatissimumProperties

• Fiber varieties
• Taller, lower seed yield
• High quality natural fiber
• Seed varieties
• Shorter, higher seed yield
• High in omega-3 oils
• Contains anti-carcinogenic compounds
• Ornamental varieties
• Only true blue flower

5
FlaxLinum ustatissimumUses

• Fiber varieties
• Fabric
• Paper
• Fishing nets
• Seed varieties fiber
• Paper products
• Cigarette papers
• Meal from oil extraction
• Livestock feed 36 CP
• Can increase omega-3 in product

• Oil
• Cooking Oil
• Diet supplement
• Dietary fiber
• Omega-3 oil
• Drying agent in paint
• Oldest used oil
• Industrial uses
• Biodiesel

6
FlaxLinum ustatissimumProduction

• Annual plant requires 110 growing days
• Grows in soil types similar to small grains
• Fertilized similar to small grains

7
FlaxLinum ustatissimumProduction seed
preparation

• Generally seeded in late April
• Seeded at 25-35 lbs/ acre
• Seeded ¾- 1½ deep

8
FlaxLinum ustatissimumProduction risk
management

• Less competitive with weeds than small grains
• Herbicides approved
• Insect loss has been reported
• Grasshoppers cause seed boll drop
• Susceptible to other insects
• Insecticides approved
• Disease resistant varieties are suggested

9
FlaxLinum ustatissimumProduction Harvest

• Harvested when 90 of boll turn brown
• Direct combine
• Less loss, must be dry
• Swath
• Need sharp blades
• More loss
• Flax straw
• Harvest or redistribute
• Feed to livestock only with caution after frost