Flax, now scientifically as Linum usitatissimum, has many different varieties which exist around the world, but largely in the temperate regions, and  can supply for fibre and oil. Over centuries with careful farming and skilled selection varieties were  developed to supply either improved oil or improved fibre, it's better to focus on one better result than an average oil and fibre.

The oil is generally known as linseed oil, and   is used both a  nutitional supplement  and  foodstuff and also as a protective wood and furniture coating, but there are many other  uses including lubrication and animal feed.

 

The fibre is contained within the stem of the plant which is gleaned by an involved process involving rotting and breaking the stems combing the remains  to produce a truly great fibre, a process that has been mastered for thousands of years, when spun and woven is a long lasting and valuble cloth, spun flax changes its name to linen, known almost everywhere as  cloth of quality.

In this  website  a full explaination of the methods or preparation  with lots of photographs and information of different groups, both local and international who are working on small scale plots and workshops to interest and encourage greater understanding and indeed love and admiration for an impressive plant and an environmental and economic resource.