Flax for torts

[tortoiseplanet]

I got a ton of flax seeds recently so I decided to plant a few lbs and now my backyard is a flax forest! Can my torts eat them? (The plant, not seed)**

 

[wellington]

Not if it's the same as this.
http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/...actwords&searchtxt=Flax+&x=0&y=0#.WpdJAEFMHv4

 

[tortoiseplanet]

Not if it's the same as this.
http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/...actwords&searchtxt=Flax+&x=0&y=0#.WpdJAEFMHv4

It’s neither one of those, here are some photos:

 

[wellington]

Maybe @Yvonne G can help with it. All I found was what was on that site I linked ya

 

[RosemaryDW]

An answer from the expert on an earlier thread: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/okay-for-torts.113953/#post-1058897.

 

[tortoiseplanet]

An answer from the expert on an earlier thread: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/okay-for-torts.113953/#post-1058897.

Those aren’t the same flax.
This is the packaging of the ones I planted:

 

[RosemaryDW]

Pretty sure that’s Linum usitatissimum, same family, just the cultivated version.

If you want to be sure, I think you’ll have to wait for Lochroma.

I’ll be interested in the answer. Seeds are allegedly toxic but I found several references to ground flax seed being fed to tortoises on our site and I believe a little of it’s even included in Mazuri. (That doesn’t make it safe, just noting what I found.)

 

[Reptilian Feline]

If you can't feed it to them, then you can make linnen instead. Let the plant flower and dry, cut it, beat it up, and turn the fibres into string and weave
They have beautiful blue flowers.

The seeds create a jelly that helps the gut in humans. The ground variety isn't as healthy, because they are slightly toxic. The oil is used for painting or to help your gut, depending on how you use it. Feed the oil to horses or dogs and cats, to give a healthy looking coat.