Descurainia sophia
| Descurainia sophia | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 3' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Descurainia sophia (common name: flixweed)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in situ.
Cultivation: We have very little information on the needs of this species but, judging by its habitat it should succeed in most soils in a fairly sunny position.
Range: Europe to Asia. Possibly native to Britain[1].
Habitat: Waste ground and roadsides[1].
Edibility: Young leaves and shoots - cooked[2][3]. A bitter flavour[4]. Used as a potherb[5][6].
Seed - raw or cooked[7]. A pungent taste, it is used as a mustard substitute[8][9][2][5]. The seed can be ground into a powder, mixed with cornmeal and used to make bread, or as a thickening for soups etc[8][4][5]. It can also be sprouted and added to salads etc[5]. A nourishing and cooling beverage can be made by mixing the ground up seeds with water to make a thin batter[6]. The seed contains 25.5 - 29.9% protein, 26.9 - 39.7% fat and 3.6 - 3.9% ash on a zero moisture basis[10].
Medicinal: A poultice of the plant has been used to ease the pain of toothache[6].
The juice of the plant has been used in the treatment of chronic coughs, hoarseness and ulcerated sore throats[11]. A strong decoction of the plant has proved excellent in the treatment of asthma[11].
The flowers and the leaves are antiscorbutic and astringent[10][12].
The seed is considered to be cardiotonic, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, laxative, restorative and tonic[10][12]. It is used in the treatment of asthma, fevers, bronchitis, oedema and dysentery[13][12]. It is also used in the treatment of worms and calculus complaints[12]. It is decocted with other herbs for treating various ailments[10]. The seeds have formed a special remedy for sciatica[11].
A poultice of the ground up seeds has been used on burns and sores[6].
Usage: A semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed[12]. Yields are not given[K].
The leaves have been stored with corn to prevent it from going bad[6].
Pollinators: Self
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Sisymbrium sophia.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Harrington, Harold. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press, 1967.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.