Linaceae

Flax Family

Western Blue Flax

FAMILY: Flax family (Linaceae) – Linum genus.

SPECIES: Western blue flax or linseed (Linum lewisii Pursh).

TO UTILIZE AS FOOD: Warning! Although the seeds are safe to eat after cooking, unprocessed seeds contain traces of a toxin called hydrocyanic acid. Alkaloids may also be present. Western blue flax seeds are off-white with dark-brown coatings. Blue refers to the flower color. Harvesting and processing the seeds is easy. They readily fall out of the capsules, almost too readily. Even a gentle wind blows away the potential harvest, so timing is important. Don’t expect these seeds to persist. Western blue flax seeds taste identical to commercially grown flax seeds. Toasted seeds are delicious, but the bran-like seed coats are annoying. Boiled seeds taste equally good, but the slimy texture is unappealing. Grinding the seeds prior to boiling is recommended for a smooth consistency. Seed coats remain bran-like regardless of how the seeds are prepared. Only the inner whitish portions have food value. Overall, western blue flax seeds are a good resource.

NOTES: Flax seeds sold in grocery stores come from (Linum usitatissimum), which is native to Europe and Asia. Western blue flax looks virtually identical. Seeds of both species may have a similar nutritional profile.

A 100 gram serving of flax (Linum usitatissimum) seeds contains: 534 kilocalories, 6.96 g water, 18.29 g protein, 42.16 g fat, 28.88 g carbohydrates, 3.72 g ash, 255 mg calcium, 642 mg phosphorus, 392 mg magnesium, 30 mg sodium, 813 mg potassium, 5.73 g iron, 4.34 mg zinc, 1.22 mg copper, 2.482 mg manganese, 25.4 μg selenium, and many other nutrients, including essential fatty acids. Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.

IDENTIFICATION: The Linum genus is represented by about 30-35 species in the United States, of which about 15 occur in arid regions. The blue flowers of western blue flax (L. lewisii) are distinctive. No other species with blue flowers are established in the Southwest. Most species have white, orange, or yellow flowers. Meadow flax (L. pratense) is a blue-flowered species of the southern Great Plains barely entering the eastern edge of the Southwest. Common flax (L. usitatissimum), which also has blue flowers, may occasionally escape cultivation, but it’s not established in the Southwest.

Description of western blue flax (Linum lewisii): FORM upright, hairless, perennial plant about 20-60 cm tall; LEAVES simple; alternate; sessile; blades linear-lanceolate and directed upward; margins entire; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged in one-sided axillary racemes; sepals 5, without glands, margins hairless; petals 5, free, sky blue, and 6-8 mm long (var. alpicola) or 8-19 mm long (var. lewisii); pistils 1; styles 5; stigmas spherical to slightly elongated, usually a little longer than wide; stamens 5; filaments united at the bases; FRUITS capsules globe-shaped, 6-10 mm in diameter, and splitting into 5 sections, with 2 oily seeds in each section; HABITAT plains, meadows, and open areas; throughout the western United States; blooming March to October.

REFERENCES: Western blue flax (Linum lewisii): seeds Couplan (pp. 317-318), Ebeling (p. 242), Moerman (p. 142), Morgan (pp. 152-154), and Vizgirdas (p. 88).