English Name: Flax Seeds Botanical Name: Linum usitatissimum Common Name: Linseed, Brown Flax Seed, Echter Lein, Alashi Harvesting Period: March-June Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. Flax is grown both for its seeds and for its fiber. Flax is an erect annual plant growing to 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) tall, with slender stems. The leaves are glaucous green, slender lanceolate, 20 - 40 mm long and 3 mm broad. The flowers are pure pale blue, 15 - 25 mm diameter, with five petals; they can also be bright red. The fruit is a round, dry capsule 5 - 9 mm diameter, containing several glossy brown seeds shaped like an apple pip, 4 - 7 mm long.In addition to referring to the plant itself, the word "flax" may refer to the unspun fibres of the flax plant. Medicinal Use Flax seeds are used for treating asthma, osteoarthritis. Flax seeds are used for treatingrheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches and osteoporosis. Flax seeds have high levels of lignans which protect against breast cancer. Flax Seeds improves the quality of hair, nails, and skin.