The Flax Fiber Plant

History

• Ancient Egyptians started using the flax plant for linen production about 5,000 years ago. For medieval Europeans, it served as the most commonly used textile and was brought to North America by the Puritans. After the turn of the 19th century, however, cotton started replacing it for use in clothing.

Description

• A fully mature linseed plant can grow almost as tall as 4 feet. Slender, green leaves measure from 3/4 to 1.5 inches long. Flowers have five petals each and can be pale blue or white. The blue version produces higher quality fibers, while the white-flowered version has coarser quality fibers. Small, round fruit contains several tiny, glossy-brown flax seeds.

Flax Fibers

• Flax fibers are obtained from the stem of the plant, between the flesh and the woody center. They contain a high amount of cellulose and have strength, durability, flexibility, softness and fineness, although they're not as elastic as cotton.

  The fibers themselves get extracted through a retting and scutching process. The cellular tissue of the stem gets rotted away with water or dew in the retting process. Then the fibers are beaten to separate them from the woody center and any other material.

Fiber Uses

• North Americans typically grow the common flax fiber plant for its oil-yielding seed. However, it's also used with finer fabric (like lace) or for blending in with wool and synthetic material. The automobile industry uses it for insulation purposes, while the paper industry uses it to manufacture cigarette paper and printed banknotes. The coarser fibers of the white-flowered version are also used for rope and twine.