flax

n. 1 blue-flowered plant cultivated for its textile fibre and its seeds. 2 flax fibres. [old english]

n. A plant of the genus Linum, esp. the L. usitatissimum, which has a single, slender stalk, about a foot and a half high, with blue flowers. The fiber of the bark is used for making thread and cloth, called linen, cambric, lawn, lace, etc. Linseed oil is expressed from the seed.