Linseed
Linum usitatissimum
Flax, Flaxseed, Oil-flax;
Graine de Lin (French); Flachs, Saatlein, Leinsamen (German);
Lino—flax, Linaza—linseed (Spanish); Linho, Linhaça (Portuguese); Lino usuale
(Italian);
Alsi (Hindi); Sharkhal (Dari); Entateh (Tigrinha); Talba (Ethiopia); Kathân, Malsag
(Arabic); Yama (Chinese); Tisii (Nepalese); Aliviraaii / Alivira (Tamil);
Keten (Turkish)
Linseed, or flaxseed, is a dual-purpose crop which is grown both for its oil and its
fibre (or “flax”). Traditionally, oil has been the normal product in hot, dry regions
and fibre in the more humid, temperate regions. However, in more recent years large
areas of oil varieties are planted in temperate areas such as Argentina, Canada and
northern Europe. Varieties are developed to produce either oil or fibre, but not both.
It is one of man’s earliest crops and was grown for fibre in southern Asia and the
The plant is an annual, 30–120 cm tall; oilseed varieties have shorter plants with
many branches and seeds, fibre varieties are taller with few or no branches and
fewer seeds.
The flowers are white, blue or rose-coloured and are mainly self-pollinated,
though some varieties have a high rate of cross-pollination. Most temperate, oil-
producing varieties are blue flowered, and fibre varieties are often white flowered.
Linseed’s main advantages are the low input requirement, the short growing
season and the fact that it makes a very good entry crop for wheat.
The oil is classified as “drying” because it thickens and becomes hard on
exposure to air. It is slightly more viscous than other vegetable oils and is good
source of dietary fibre and omega-3 fatty acid. Like most vegetable oils, linseed oil
contains linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid needed for survival. But unlike most
oils, it also contains significant amounts of another essential fatty acid, alpha
linolenic acid (ALA).
The major linseed oil producers are India, North America, Argentina, Canada,
Russia and Uruguay. Global production in 2004 was 1.9 million MT (FAO
estimate).
Up to the turn of this century, linseed oil production was highly subsidised in
northern Europe, stimulating increased levels of production. Fibre production from
linseed is mainly in Russia, Poland, Belgium, France and Holland.
PLANTING
Rotation: linseed is considered to be a very good entry crop for wheat.
Soil: medium to heavy soils are best. The linseed plant has a short root system and
so needs good soil moisture in the upper soil horizon. It is moderately susceptible to
salinity. Fertiliser is not always used as the plant either does not respond or has an
unpredictable response.
Mediterranean by about 1000 BC. Linseed oil was used in ancient rituals in India.