Flax (Linum usitatissimum)
Flowers: June to July. Height: 70cm (28in).
Linum was better known as linen as one of its primary uses was in the production of linen cloth made from flax stems. It was harvested before the seeds ripened then soaked in water (often rivers) to rot the core. Unfortunately this practice polluted the rivers, smelled dreadful, and made the water unfit to drink. Linen was popular as it was light, breathable and not as itchy as wool. It was used for the garments worn next to the skin, including dresses and tunics, as well as some headdresses. Linseed oil was produced from its seeds. It was said that farmers in Yorkshire would sit on sacks of flax seed, facing east to ensure bountiful crops.
Medicinal: Placed in the eye, a flax seed helped remove foreign bodies. Culpeper’s Complete Herbal (1653) recommended that the water in which the seeds had been boiled be used to “quicken and clear the sight”. It was the basis of mixtures used to reducing swellings, bring boils to a head, take away spots and freckles and draw out thorns and splinters. It was also used as a laxative, an expectorant to treat coughs and to stimulate appetite.
Culinary: Used in seed breads and cereals.
