Flax Linen LI

Flax is one of the oldest cultivated plants with a cultural importance dating to early prehistorical periods. Linseed was first found in the former Mesopotamia. Fragments, linseed, and capsules estimated to be from the eighth millennium BC were 

The supremacy of flax ended with the rapidly evolving cotton industry at the beginning of the 19th century, the mechanization of production, and primariiy the potential to spin cotton to the same fineness as reguiar iinen warp-yarns. Cuitiva-tion of cotton expanded woridwide, and that of flax receded as a resuit. 

Since 1984, there have been severai attempts to reintroduce the cuitivation of flax in Germany, which is expiained subsequentiy. 

Eiax belongs to the family Linaceae, and the type considered here belongs to the genus Linum. There are wild-growing, small, herbaceous perennials and cultivated, annual flax plants. 

Flax is cultivated worldwide except in tropical and cold climate zones. Fiber flax grows in humid, moderate climates whereas oil flax grows in dry, warm areas. The cultivation area worldwide varies considerably, ranging from about 220,000 ha (2011) to 520,000 ha (2004). Flax production varies accordingly from 227,000 T (2011) to 1.01 million T (2004). The main flax producer until 2005 was China. Since then, production there has dropped by 95% today the main producers are Belarus, France, and Russia, with a combined world market share of 75% (FAO, 2013). 

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