1. Introduction Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is an annual herbaceous plant with blue flowers, widespread in various parts of the world. Its Latin name means “very useful” and, throughout human history, this plant has been used for very different purposes, as a fiber plant and oil crop. The flax seed consists of an embryo, two cotyledons, and a hull, in the approximate proportions of 4%, 55%, and 36%, respectively. Flaxseed hulls can vary in color from yellow to brown.