{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox |image = Koeh-170.jpg |genus = Rhamphospermum |species = nigrum |status = LC |status_system = IUCN3.1 |authority = L. Al-Shehbaz |synonyms_ref = <ref name="POWO_77218493-1" >{{cite POWO |id=77218493-1 |title=''Rhamphospermum nigrum'' (L.) Al-Shehbaz |access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref> |synonyms={{Collapsible list| *''Brassica brachycarpa'' {{small|P.Candargy}} *''Brassica bracteolata'' {{small|Fisch. & C.A.Mey.}} *''Brassica elongata'' var. ''longipedicellata'' {{small|Halácsy ex Formánek}} *''Brassica nigra'' {{small|(L.) W.D.J.Koch}} *''Brassica nigra'' var. ''abyssinica'' {{small|A.Braun}} *''Brassica nigra'' var. ''bracteolata'' {{small|(Fisch. & C.A.Mey.) Spach ex Coss.}} *''Brassica nigra'' f. ''breviflora'' {{small|Zapał.}} *''Brassica nigra'' var. ''carneodentata'' {{small|Kuntze}} *''Brassica nigra'' f. ''condensata'' {{small|Hausskn.}} *''Brassica nigra'' f. ''dentifera'' {{small|Zapał.}} *''Brassica nigra'' f. ''glabrata'' {{small|Zapał.}} *''Brassica nigra'' f. ''hispida'' {{small|O.E.Schulz}} *''Brassica nigra'' subsp. ''hispida'' {{small|(O.E.Schulz) Gladis}} *''Brassica nigra'' proles ''persoonii'' {{small|Rouy & Foucaud}} *''Brassica nigra'' var. ''subglabra'' {{small|Kuntze}} *''Brassica nigra'' var. ''torulosa'' {{small|(Pers.) Alef.}} *''Brassica nigra'' proles ''turgida'' {{small|(Pers.) Rouy & Foucaud}} *''Brassica nigra'' var. ''turgida'' {{small|(Pers.) Alef.}} *''Brassica nigra'' var. ''vulgaris'' {{small|Alef.}} *''Brassica persoonii'' {{small|Rouy & Foucaud}} *''Brassica sinapioides'' {{small|Roth}} *''Brassica sinapioides'' {{small|Roth ex W.D.J.Koch}} *''Brassica sinapis'' {{small|Noulet}} *''Brassica turgida'' {{small|Rouy & Foucaud}} *''Crucifera sinapis'' {{small|(L.) E.H.L.Krause}} *''Erysimum glabrum'' {{small|C.Presl}} *''Melanosinapis communis'' {{small|Spenn.}} *''Melanosinapis nigra'' {{small|(L.) Calest.}} *''Mutarda nigra'' {{small|(L.) Bernh.}} *''Raphanus sinapis-officinalis'' {{small|Crantz}} *''Sinapis bracteolata'' {{small|G.Don}} *''Sinapis erysimoides'' {{small|Roxb.}} *''Sinapis gorraea'' {{small|Buch.-Ham. ex Wall.}} *''Sinapis nigra'' {{small|L.}} *''Sinapis nigra'' var. ''torulosa'' {{small|(Pers.) Mérat}} *''Sinapis nigra'' var. ''turgida'' {{small|(Pers.) Mérat}} *''Sinapis orgyalis'' {{small|Willd. ex Ledeb.}} *''Sinapis persoonii'' {{small|(Rouy & Foucaud) A.Chev.}} *''Sinapis torulosa'' {{small|Pers.}} *''Sinapis turgida'' {{small|A.Chev.}} *''Sinapis turgida'' {{small|Pers.}} *''Sisymbrium nigrum'' {{small|(L.) Prantl}} }} }} '''''Rhamphospermum nigrum''''' (syns. '''''Mutarda nigra''''', '''''Brassica nigra''''', and '''''Sinapis nigra'''''), '''black mustard''', is an annual plant native to cooler regions of North Africa, temperate regions of Europe, and parts of Asia.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:287192-1 |title=Mutarda nigra (L.) Bernh}}</ref>.It is cultivated for its dark-brown-to-black seeds, which are commonly used as a spice.
==Description== [[File:20120704Brassica nigra1.jpg|thumb|Black mustard plants in Saarbrücken]] [[File:Brassica nigra silique.jpg|thumb|Black mustard fruits at the Jardin des Plantes de Paris]] thumb|Black mustard seeds It is an upright plant, growing to {{Convert|70|cm}} in width<ref name="tfb">{{Cite book |last=Francis-Baker |first=Tiffany |title=Concise Foraging Guide |date=2021 |publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=978-1-4729-8474-6 |series=The Wildlife Trusts |location=London |pages=58}}</ref> and up to {{Convert|1.2|m|ft|frac=2}} tall in moist, fertile soil. The large stalked leaves are covered with hairs or bristles at the base, with smoother stems.<ref name="Readers" /><ref>[https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/brassica/nigra/ New England Botany]</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Elias |first1=Thomas S. |title=Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods |last2=Dykeman |first2=Peter A. |publisher=Sterling |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4027-6715-9 |location=New York |pages=100 |oclc=244766414 |orig-year=1982}}</ref>
It blooms in summer (from May onwards in the UK). The flowers have four yellow petals, which are twice as long as the sepals. Each stem has around four flowers<ref name="tfb" /> at the top, forming a ring around the stem. Later, the plant forms long, beaked seed pods, which contain rounded seeds.<ref name="Readers">{{cite book |year=1981 |title=Reader's Digest Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Britain |page=41 |publisher=Reader's Digest |isbn=9780276002175}}</ref><ref name="tfb" />
=== Similar species === {{See also|Triangle of U}} Despite their similar common names, black mustard and white mustard (genus ''Sinapis'') are not in the same genus. Black mustard belongs to the same tribe as cabbage and turnips.
''R. nigrum'' also resembles ''Hirschfeldia incana'' (hoary mustard, formerly known as ''Brassica geniculata''), a perennial plant.
==Taxonomy== It was formally described by Karl Koch in "Deutschl. Fl." (or Deutschlands Flora) ed.3 on page 713 in 1833.<ref name="plantlist">{{cite web |title=''Brassica nigra'' (L.) K.Koch is an accepted name |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2682421 |date=23 March 2012 |publisher=theplantlist.org |access-date=9 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Brassicaceae ''Brassica nigra'' (L.) W.D.J.Koch |url=http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=72281-3 |publisher=ipni.org |access-date=9 November 2017}}</ref> This was based on a description by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus.
The Latin-specific epithet ''nigrum'' is derived from the Latin word for black.<ref>Allen J. Coombes {{google books|capqDQYT_VYC& |The A to Z of Plant Names: A Quick Reference Guide to 4000 Garden Plants |page=241}}</ref><ref>D. Gledhill {{Google books |NJ6PyhVuecwC |The Names of Plants |page=273}}</ref> This is due to the black seeds.<ref name=Readers/>
==Distribution and habitat== It is native to tropical regions of North Africa, temperate regions of Europe and parts of Asia.<ref name="Grin">{{cite web |title=Taxon: ''Brassica nigra'' (L.) W. D. J. Koch |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=7666 |publisher=ars-grin.gov |access-date=9 November 2017}}</ref>
In North Africa, it is found within Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Ethiopia, Morocco and Tunisia. Within Asia, it is found in Afghanistan, Armenia, the Caucasus, China (in the provinces of Gansu, Jiangsu, Qinghai, Xinjiang and Xizang), Cyprus, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel–Palestine, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.<ref name="Grin" />
In eastern Europe, it is found in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. In middle Europe, it is found in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland. In northern Europe, in Ireland and the United Kingdom. In southeastern Europe, within Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia. In southwestern Europe, it is found in France and Spain.<ref name="Grin" />
It was introduced to the Pacific coast of North America and is considered an invasive species.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Panzar |first1=Javier |title=This super bloom is pretty dangerous: Invasive mustard is fuel for the next fire |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-mustard-fire-santa-monica-mountains-20190425-story.html |access-date=25 April 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=25 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=black mustard ''Brassica nigra'' |url=https://www.eddmaps.org/distribution/viewmap.cfm?sub=5206 |website=Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System |publisher=The University of Georgia - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health |access-date=25 April 2019}}</ref> The plant was brought here centuries ago by Catholic missionaries during the era of Spanish exploration and colonization, as a food crop, according to Matt Loftis, a manager of Mountain Forestry Department at TreePeople in Los Angeles, California. It has since thrived unchecked, aided by a similar Mediterranean climate in Southern California.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-01 |title=Those yellow wildflowers you see everywhere are bad for the environment — but they're here to stay |url=https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/yellow-wildflowers-socal-bad-for-our-environment |website=LAist |language=en}}</ref>
==Uses== The plant was used as a condiment more than 2,000 years ago; it was mentioned by the Roman author Columella in the 1st century CE. The plant leaves were also pickled in vinegar. In 13th-century France the seeds were ground and used. They were mixed with unfermented grape juice (must) to create "moût-ardent" ("burning must"). This became later "moutarde",<ref name=Readers/> or mustard in English.
A spice is generally made from ground seeds of the plant,<ref name="POWO_77218493-1" /><ref>{{cite book |author1=David Chapman |title=Exploring the Cornish Coast |date=2008 |publisher=Alison Hodge |isbn=9780906720561 |location=Penzance |page=104}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Al-Shehbaz |first1=Ihsan A. |year=2021 |title=Nomenclatural Adjustments in ''Eutrema'', ''Ceratocnemum'', ''Rhamphospermum'', and ''Sinapis'' (Brassicaceae, Cruciferae) |journal=Harvard Papers in Botany |volume=26 |doi=10.3100/hpib.v26iss1.2021.n1 |s2cid=235769737}}</ref> with the seed coats removed. The small (1 mm) seeds are hard and vary in color from dark brown to black. They are flavorful, although they have almost no aroma. The seeds are commonly used in Indian cuisine,<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Sullivan |first1=Eve |title=How to cook with mustard seeds |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/feb/17/how-to-cook-with-mustard-seeds-vivek-singh |access-date=9 November 2017 |work=The Guardian |date=17 February 2014}}</ref> for example in curry, where it is known as ''rai''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mustard Seeds / Rai / Sarson |url=http://www.food-india.com/ingredients/i001_i025/i021.htm |publisher=food-india.com |access-date=9 November 2017}}</ref> The seeds are usually thrown into hot oil or ghee, after which they pop, releasing a characteristic nutty flavor. The seeds have a significant amount of fatty oil, mainly oleic acid.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mejia-Garibay |first1=B. |last2=Palou |first2=E. |last3=Guerrero-Beltrán |first3=J. A. |last4=López-Malo |first4=A. |title=Physical and antioxidant characteristics of black (''Brassica nigra'') and yellow mustard (''Brassica alba'') seeds and their products |journal=Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutrición |date=June 2015 |volume=65 |issue=2 |pages=128–35 |pmid=26817385}}</ref> This oil is used often as cooking oil in India, where it is called "sarson ka tel".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Borah |first1=Plavaneeta |title=8 Incredible Mustard Oil Benefits That Make It So Popular |url=http://food.ndtv.com/health/8-incredible-mustard-oil-benefits-that-make-it-so-popular-1631993 |access-date=9 November 2017 |work=ndtv.com |date=30 November 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
The young leaves, buds and flowers are edible.<ref name=":0" /> In Ethiopia, where the plant is cultivated as a vegetable in Gondar, Harar and Shewa, the shoots and leaves are consumed cooked and the seeds used as a spice. Its Amharic name is ''senafitch''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Conservation and use of traditional vegetables in Ethiopia |url=http://www.bioversityinternational.org/publications/Web_version/500/ch08.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707210646/http://www2.bioversityinternational.org/publications/Web_version/500/ch08.htm |archive-date=2012-07-07 |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=www.bioversityinternational.org |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Since the 1950s, black mustard has become less popular as compared to brown mustard, because some cultivars of brown mustard have seeds that can be mechanically harvested in a more efficient manner.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
===Folk medicine=== In the UK, the plant was used to make "hot mustard baths", which would aid people with colds.<ref name=Readers/> Ground seeds of the plant mixed with honey are widely used in eastern Europe as a cough suppressant. In Eastern Canada, the use of {{lang|fr|mouche de moutarde}} to treat respiratory infections was popular before the advent of modern medicine. It consisted in mixing ground mustard seeds with flour and water, and creating a cataplasm with the paste. This poultice was put on the chest or the back and left until the person felt a stinging sensation. Mustard poultice could also be used to aid muscular pains.<ref name=Readers/>
==In culture== Black mustard is thought to be the seed mentioned by Jesus in the Parable of the Mustard Seed.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |year=1900 |title=Mustard |encyclopedia=A Dictionary of the Bible |url=http://www.odu.edu/~lmusselm/post/dictionary/hastings_dic/pages/mustard.shtml |last=Post |first=George Edward |editor=James Hastings |editor-link=James Hastings}}</ref>
==See also== *Mustard plant *Mustard seed *''Sinapis''
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://gernot-katzers-spice-pages.com/engl/Bras_nig.html Entry in Gernot Katzer's spice pages], with pictures and detailed information *{{Illinois Wildflowers |weeds|plants|black_mustard|link=1}} *[https://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mustar65.html Mustards]
{{Herbs & spices}} {{Brassica}} {{Taxonbar|from1=Q119850797|from2=Q381942|from3=Q21877455|from4=Q115124559}}
nigrum Category:Spices Category:Medicinal plants of Asia Category:Medicinal plants of Europe Category:Flora of Europe Category:Flora of North Africa Category:Flora of Eritrea Category:Flora of Ethiopia Category:Flora of Afghanistan Category:Flora of Armenia Category:Flora of the Caucasus Category:Flora of China Category:Flora of Iran Category:Flora of Iraq Category:Flora of Israel Category:Flora of Kazakhstan Category:Flora of Lebanon and Syria Category:Flora of Palestine (region) Category:Leaf vegetables Category:Oil seeds Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus