Flax, Linum genus

[ethin]

Before I do something dumb like poison myself, do all species of flax have edible seeds?
I've tried to google it, but 99% of what I found was just about how great flax seed is for you.

Also do the different species of flax cross?

[richardw]

so i take it you are referring to Linum usitatissimum and not Phormium tenax

[ethin]

Oh sorry, yes the Linum genus.

[Joseph Lofthouse]

I think that you don't need to worry about cross pollination in domestic flax. The domestic flax that I am growing has anther cones wrapped around the stigma. That makes them more than 99% inbreeding.

Here's some notes from: University of Minnesota

Species of flax with the same chromosome number that might cross with domestic flax include: L. bienne, L. flavum, L. tauricum, L. campanulatum, L. sulcatum, and L. thracium. However attempts at making hybrids were unsuccessful.

Species with a different chromosome number that might cross with each other, but are unlikely to hybridize with domestic flax include: Linum altaicum, L. austriacum, L. baicalense, L. hirsutum, L. lewisii, L. perenne, and L. tenufolium. I think that L. lewisii is the wild flax that grows around my place.

[steev]

Joseph the Researcher! We're lucky to have you.

[ethin]

Well what I have is a blue annual that is most likely Linum usitatissimum, and two different varieties of Linum grandiflorum. I sowed them in the same row and at their current stage they are indistinguishable, if Linum grandiflorum's seeds are not edible I guess I'll need to mark the seed as ornamental only. Should still be enough time left to plant some more Linum usitatissimum for food.

[diane]

Cornucopia II lists three species of Linum, and three cultivars of L. usitatissimum.

L. lewisii has edible seeds when cooked.

L. perenne has seeds that have a high cyanide content when raw but are safe after cooking.