Flax is a plant with delicate blue flowers that humans have cultivated for thousands of years to make two important products: linen fabric and flaxseed oil.

The flax plant's stem contains long, strong fibers that can be separated, spun into thread, and woven into linen, one of the oldest fabrics in human history. Ancient Egyptians wrapped mummies in linen and wore it in the hot desert climate because it breathes well and keeps you cool. For centuries, linen was prized for everything from ship sails to fine tablecloths. The process of turning flax into linen requires soaking the plants, breaking them apart to separate the fibers, and then spinning those fibers into thread.

The plant's seeds, called flaxseeds, contain oil that people use in cooking and painting. Artists have mixed flax oil (also called linseed oil) with pigments to create oil paints for centuries. Many of the world's most famous paintings were created with linseed oil.

Today, flax grows mainly in cooler climates. While cotton has largely replaced linen for everyday clothing, people still value linen for its durability and the way it softens with age. Some people eat flaxseeds for their nutritional benefits, adding them to bread, cereal, or smoothies.