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Uses

Toxic parts

The raw seed contains cyanide and should not be eaten raw[1]. The cooked seed is perfectly safe[1].

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - cooked[2][3][1]. A pleasant nutty taste and very nutritious[4]. The seed has a high oil content and can be eaten on its own or used as a flavouring[5][1]. It should not be eaten raw because it contains cyanide but this is destroyed in the cooking process[1].

Material uses

A drying oil is obtained from the seed. Used mainly for lighting[6], though it could also be used in all the ways that linseed oil (from Linum usitatissimum) is used - in paints, varnishes etc[7].

An infusion of the whole plant is used as a hair and skin wash[8]. It is said to be very beneficial to the skin and also to help prevent hair loss[8].

A good fibre is obtained from the stems, it is inferior to flax (Linum usitatissimum)[7] but is used for making cloth, nets, string, baskets, mats etc and in paper making[9][2][3][10][4][7]. When used for paper making, the stems are harvested in late summer or autumn when they are two thirds yellow and are then retted[11]. The fibre is then stripped from the stem, cooked for two hours or more with lye and then beaten in a Hollander beater[11].

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The plant is antirheumatic, carminative and stomachic[4][8].

The oil in the seed has soothing and lubricating properties, and is used in medicines to soothe tonsillitis, sore throats, coughs, colds, constipation, gravel and stones[12]. When mixed with an equal quantity of lime water it is used to treat burns and scalds[12]. A poultice of the fresh crushed leaves has been used to treat eye problems[4][13]. A tincture of the entire plant is used in the treatment of diarrhoea[9]. The fresh herb is boiled and taken internally for the treatment of rheumatic pains, heartburn, colds, coughs and dropsy[9][8]. A poultice of the plant is applied to bruises to reduce the swelling[8]. The seeds are emollient[14]. An eye medicine is made from them[8].

An infusion of the roots is used as an eyewash[8].

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Basal cuttings in spring. Harvest the shoots when they are about 8 - 10cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Linum perenne. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers a light dry well-drained moderately fertile humus-rich soil in a sunny sheltered position[15]. Prefers an alkaline soil. Established plants are drought tolerant[16].

A very ornamental plant[17], it is not generally very long-lived though it normally self-sows freely[16].

The sub-species lewisii (which is seen as a separate species by some botanists or as no more than a synonym of this species by others) is more desirable for its fibre and has been cultivated by the N. American Indians for this purpose[18].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Linum perenne. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Linum perenne.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Linum perenne
Genus
Linum
Family
Linaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
7
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil Texture
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
?
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type

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References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.5 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.12.22.3 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.13.23.3 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.6 Sweet. M. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West. Naturegraph Co. ISBN 0-911010-54-8 (1962-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
  6. ? 6.06.1 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()
  7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
  8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.58.68.78.8 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.4 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.1 Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (1968-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.111.2 Bell. L. A. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press (1988-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.112.2 Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. ISBN 0-330-30725-8 (1990-00-00)
  13. ? 13.013.1 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
  14. ? 14.014.1 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)
  15. ? 15.015.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  16. ? 16.016.1 Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent ISBN 0460045512 (1982-00-00)
  17. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  18. ? Arnberger. L. P. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments Ass. (1968-00-00)

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Facts about "Linum perenne"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyLinaceae +
Belongs to genusLinum +
Has binomial nameLinum perenne +
Has common namePerennial Flax +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has edible partSeed +
Has edible useUnknown use +
Has environmental toleranceDrought +
Has fertility typeBees + and Flies +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone7 +
Has imageLinum extraaxillare a1.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useCosmetic +, Fibre +, Hair care +, Oil + and Paper +
Has mature height0.3 +
Has mature width0.15 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAntirheumatic +, Carminative +, Emollient +, Ophthalmic +, Poultice + and Stomachic +
Has primary imageLinum extraaxillare a1.jpg +
Has search namelinum perenne + and perennial flax +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
Has soil texture preferenceSandy + and Loamy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
Has taxonomy nameLinum perenne +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
PFAF toxicity notes migratedNo +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Linum perenne +, Linum perenne +, Linum perenne +, Linum perenne +, Linum perenne +, Linum perenne +, Linum perenne +, Linum perenne +, Linum perenne +, Linum perenne +, Linum perenne + and Linum perenne +