| When the flax plant, with its small bright blue flowers, | | | | biodegradable fibres are used to make basket liners |
| waves in the summer's breeze, it looks too delicate to | | | | and weed suppressant matting. |
| be anything other than a colourful and charming | | | | 6. Pulped flax fibres are also used in the production of |
| addition to the rural landscape. Its apparent delicacy is | | | | banknote paper. Check out that dollar or euro bill! |
| deceptive, however, because this remarkable plant, | | | | 7. After spinning, flax fibres are transformed into yarn |
| which is harvested 100 days after it is sown and | | | | which in turn is woven into beautiful linen cloth. Today, |
| grows to a height of about one metre, is incredibly | | | | this process is done by machines but all spinning used |
| robust and hard-working. No part of it is wasted and it | | | | to be women's work. This is where the term spinster, |
| provides the basic materials for many widely used but | | | | meaning unmarried woman, originated. |
| disparate products, as the list below proves. | | | | 8. Modern technological developments allow flax plant |
| | | | fibres to substitute synthetic materials to produce |
| 1. After harvesting and drying, the flax plant gives up its | | | | useful products such as loft insulation. This is much |
| small shiny brown seeds. If not used for next year's | | | | more environmentally friendly (and cost-effective) than |
| planting, these seeds are crushed to produce linseed oil | | | | chemically produced alternatives. |
| which is in demand from artists and cabinet makers | | | | 9. The woody core of flax fibres is very absorbent so |
| for varnishing and painting. | | | | has recently become a key element in the |
| 2. Oil from crushed flax seed is also increasingly used | | | | manufacture of horse bedding and animal litter. |
| as a herbal supplement because it is thought to have | | | | 10. In its most modern invention, flax plant fibres are |
| many nutritional benefits for humans due to its high | | | | being used by car manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, |
| omega oils. These are believed to help in lowering | | | | Crysler and DaimlerBenz for non-structural car |
| cholestrol. | | | | components such as door panels and boot liners. |
| 3. Flax plant oil is often used in special soaps designed | | | | The flax plant is one of the world's oldest known |
| for those with skin problems such as eczema or | | | | crops. Evidence of its cultivation from the Stone Age |
| severe dryness. | | | | has been found in parts of Europe where it is the only |
| 4. Aside of its nutritional benefits to humans, whole flax | | | | natural fibre grown but its full potential is probably not |
| seeds are also used in cattle and chicken feed. | | | | yet fully exhausted. It is, without a doubt, an exceptional |
| 5. The coarsest flax fibres have long been used to | | | | little plant. |
| manufacture twine/string and rope. More recently, the | | | | |