Flax is a plant with pretty blue flowers that people have been growing for over 10,000 years, making it one of the oldest crops in the whole world! The plant grows tall, thin stems that are full of long, strong fibers hidden inside. To get the fibers out, farmers soak the stems in water until the outside part gets soft and peels away. Then the fibers are combed out and spun into thread to make a smooth, cool fabric called linen. Ancient Egyptians loved linen so much that they even wrapped their mummies in it!
Flax also grows small, shiny brown seeds called flaxseeds that are packed with things that are really good for your body. People sprinkle flaxseeds on cereal, mix them into smoothies, and bake them into bread. The seeds can also be pressed to make a special oil called linseed oil, which is used in paints and to protect wood. So flax is an amazing plant that gives us clothes, food, and art supplies all from one little stem! The blue flowers only bloom for one day before their petals fall off, but each plant grows so many flowers that a whole field of flax looks like a beautiful blue ocean.
