Flax

Flax is a plant used for many purposes. It is cultivated all over Leanor, wherever the soil is suitable for it. It has tall stems with thin, long, medium-green leaves. The flowers generally have five petals and are often blue or purple, though red and yellow varieties also exist. The different parts of the flax plant, such as its stems and seeds are used for different purposes.

The stems are used to produce fibres that are used to produce textiles, which are used for clothing as well as other purposes. The textile created from flax fibres is commonly known as linen. It has specific properties making it a very versatile textile. Common uses for linen include underclothing, bedsheets and tablecloths, as well as the making of painter's canvasses, bags and sails.

The parts of the stems left over in the production of linen can also be used. Coarser linen fibres are used to make ropes and twines. The left-over straw and can be used for the making of matresses and for stuffing of upholstery. The straw can also be used to cover the ground in stables and for anumal feed.

Linseeds, the seeds of the flax plant, can also be used in different ways. The brown or yellow seeds are very nutritional and can be eaten as they are or added to other foods. They are also sometimes used in animal feed. Flax seeds can also be pressed into an oil, which is also edible and used for culinary purposes.

  Aside from culinary use, linseed oil is used for many other things. It is used as a binding agent in paints and varnishes. It is also used as a wood finish to seal it and make it more durable. Additionally, linseed oil can be used for gilding, where it is applied to a surface in order to then apply thin leafs of gold. The oil helps the gold adhere to the surface below properly.