Scarlet Flax
Linum rubrum

Location
Triangle garden.

Description
A hardy, heat and drought-tolerant annual, scarlet flax grows to a height of 12-24” with glossy, deep scarlet flowers that bloom in profusion between April and September.

History
Native to Northern Africa and Southern Europe, scarlet flax has now become naturalized throughout the U.S. During antiquity, Egyptian mummies were wrapped in linens formed from the fibers taken from the stems of flax species. Romans once used Linum fibers to create cords and sails for their ships (Hottes 1922).

Current Medicinal Uses
Scarlet flax is an ornamental member of the flax family. However, the seeds of a related species, Linum usitatissimum, are commercially important in both food and medicine. As a food, flaxseed (also called linseed) has become a popular ingredient in breads, muffins, cereals and breakfast bars (Blumenthal 2003). Medicinally, whole flaxseed from Linum usitatissimum is used as a bulk-forming laxative to treat constipation as two studies in patients with constipation have demonstrated decreased transit time and increased stool weight (ESCOP 1996). Flaxseed also contains lignans that are phytoestrogen precursors. A 12-week trial testing phytoestrogen rich diet versus a usual diet on menopausal symptoms yielded no significant differences between the groups (Brzezinski 1997). Flaxseed oil, rich in the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, has been suggested to have some anti-inflammatory effects (Faintuch 2007). Whole seeds will have a laxative effect but are not absorbed. Grinding or crushing the seeds is necessary to absorb any nutrients or phytochemicals from the seed (Blumenthal 2003).

Adverse effects
Scarlet flax is not widely used in food or medicine and no information is available on adverse effects. No significant adverse effects have been associated with Linum usitatissimum, however a rare case of anaphylaxis related to flaxseed hypersensitivity has been reported in literature (Lezaun 1998).

References
Blumenthal, Mark. The ABC clinical guide to herbs. American Botanical Council, 2003

Brzezinski A, Adlercreutz H, Shaoul R et al. Short-term effects of phytoestrogen-rich diet on postmenopausal women. Menopause 1997; 4:89-94.

European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP). Monographs on the medicinal use of plant drugs. Lini semen. Fascicule 1. Exeter, UK, 1996.

Faintuch J, Horie LM. Systemic inflammation in morbidly obese subjects: response to oral supplementation with alpha-linolenic acid. Obesity Surgery 2007. 17(3):341-7.

Hottes, Alfred Carl. A little book of annuals. The A. T. De La Mare Company, Inc., 1922

Lezaun A, Fraj J, Colás C et al. Anaphylazis from linseed. Allergy 1998; 53:105-106.