Flaxseed
Flax is a plant native to the region that stretches from the Middle East to India.
It was extensively grown in ancient Egypt and ancient Ethiopia. This is an annual herb of slender stem that grows to 1,2 m. The leaves are green to glaucous, slender and lanceolate, 20-40 mm long and 3 mm wide.
The flowers are of pure, pale blue colour, 15-25 mm in diameter, with five petals, and can also be bright red.
The fruit is round, dry capsule of 5-9 mm in diameter and contains several shiny brown seeds in the form of apple seeds, 4-7 mm long.
Flaxseed comes in two basic varieties – brown and yellow. Most kinds have similar nutritional properties and equal amounts of short-chain omega-3 fatty acids.
Flaxseed is used in bakery and production of oil, which is one of the oldest commercial oils.