Commonly known as flax and scientifically named as Linum usitatissimum L. is from the family Linaceae. It is typically grown in America because of its seeds. The pressed seeds of flax are the main source of linseed oil, and such oil is being utilized mainly in paints. The other product, which is the linseed meal, is being given to livestock as their food. Furthermore, the flax is being grown in other countries because of its fibrous stalk wherein the linen is produced. Flax can grow in warmer weathers provided it will be sown in the fall and collected at the start of the next summer. Nonetheless, flax is a crop that typically grows in cool weather. The flax has a slender structure having tiny linear leaves from which the minute details can be observed using a microscope such as the stereo binocular microscope. The crown of the flax flowers form into seed pods. The seed flaxes can have more branches, can grow from fifteen to thirty inches tall and can generate extra seed as compared with the taller fiber flaxes that can grow from thirty to forty-eight inches. An average flax plant generates two to six pods or capsules having five cells, even though it ahs the ability to generate more. The pod typically generates two seeds in every cell and having the median of 8.6 seeds for every pod. The seeds are sown at the rate of forty pounds for every acre that gives a great density plant population needed for optimum generation of seed.
The flowers of the flax are grown on the terminals of the branch in numerous flowered panicles. The color of the petals can have white, lavender, blue or pink hues. The period of unfolding of the five petals of the flower is on or subsequent to sunrise. Nevertheless, the said unfolding depends on the temperature, and shed prior to noon on warm and clear days. Depending on the dampness of the soil, the flowering of the flax plant continues. Nonetheless, the crest or the height of its flowering transpires at the end of the first week. Everyday, new flowers unlock. The tiny structures of the flax flowers are better observed via microscopy using the stereo binocular microscope.
As seen under the microscope such as stereo binocular microscope, the five stamens are connected to a ring having flesh color and located at the bottom of the flower. This ring emits nectar that comes from the five tiny flat pits located on its external portion opposite on every stamen. The tiny flat pits are better viewed under the microscope like the stereo binocular microscope. Also connected to this ring are the petals, positioned alternately with the stamens. They tightened unexpectedly at the bottom leaving an opening with round form between the bases. The anthers of majority of cultivars are even with the stigmas on the five upright styles as seen under the microscope such as stereo binocular microscope. However, in other flowers the styles are petite, and in some longer than the stamens as examined with the aid of microscopy using the stereo binocular microscope.
The four types of flax flowers are the common funnel shape, disk form having huge flat petals, star form with narrow petals that are rolled inwardly, and the flowers that are tubular. The flowers have two sexes or hermaphrodite and slightly protandrous, with the exception of the pollenless male-sterile variety.
The flax gives a tiny quantity of both pollen and nectar for the honey bees. The level of visitation and the substance gathered seemingly relying on the area and contending floral resources. The theories of some botanists vary from each other with regards to flax. Some botanists believed that flax is not a good source of both pollen and nectar. Others contended that the bee gathered only pollen, while others declared that they primarily obtained nectar. Another botanist said that the lots of bees are discovered on flax only in which there is huge quantity of colonies in the area.
The flax is deemed to be typically self-pollinated even though certain crossing transpires, mainly among the huge flowered kinds. A certain botanist labored with a male-sterile line with disk-shaped flowers, and said that he acquired virtually zero cross- pollination of the male-sterile lines with lines containing tubular flowers. Nevertheless, quality wise seed set was acquired signifying heavy cross-pollination with some lines that had huge disk-shaped flowers.
The positioning of the anthers in connection to the stigmas has an effect to self-pollination. There is elevated chance for cross-pollination when the anthers are on top or below the position of the stigmas. Nevertheless, in majority of commercial cultivars they are on similar level. There is gap between the anthers and the stigma in a brief period subsequent to the opening of this type of flower. This allows cross-pollination to transpire if alien pollen is carried to the stigma. Regardless of cross-pollination the stamens soon curve in an inward direction so their pollen touches the stigma and self-pollination ensues. The plant flax is another type of plants that provide chance for cross-pollination then offer for selfing for the continued existence of the species.More on this topic