WorldFloraDB - Nigella sativa

Characteristics

An annual herb plant. It grows to 60 cm high and spreads 50 cm across. The stem is erect and branches. The leaves are greyish green and deeply divided. It has cream and white flowers which may have a blue tinge. They occur at the ends of branches. The flowers are 25 mm across. The seed pod is inflated and the seeds are black. The seed pod is like a poppy capsule. There are 5 seed bearing compartments with a crown of vertical prominent spikes. The seeds are three cornered. They are small and black. They are 3 mm long.

Life form

annual

Growth form

herb

Growth support

free-standing

Foliage retention

deciduous

Sexuality

hermaphrodite

Pollination

entomogamy

Spread

-

Mature width (meter)

0.2 - 0.5

Mature height (meter)

0.35 - 0.4

Root system

-

Rooting depth (meter)

1.5

Root diameter (meter)

-

Flower color

Blooming months

Jan	Feb	Mar
Apr	May	Jun
Jul	Aug	Sep
Oct	Nov	Dec

Fruit color

-

Fruiting months

-

Nitrogen fixer

-

Photosynthetic pathway

c3

Environment

A Mediterranean climate plant. It is a native of Syria. It prefers rich moist well drained soils. It needs an open sunny position. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.

More

Waste places, arable land and waysides.

Light
Soil humidity
Soil texture
Soil acidity
Soil nutriment	-
Hardiness (USDA)

Usage

The seeds are used as a spice in pickles. It has a peppery taste. They are also used in Turkish bread. They are sprinkled on rolls, flatbreads and cakes, Jewish rye bread, or used as flavouring in curries, pickles and preserved lemons. The flowers are used to flavour foods. CAUTION: It should not be used in large amounts.

Uses	environmental use essential oil food insecticide material medicinal oil poison seasoning social use spice
Edible	flowers fruits seeds
Therapeutic use	Skin diseases (leaf), Abdominal pain (seed), Abortifacient agents (seed), Immunostimulant (seed), Amenorrhea (seed), Analgesics (seed), Anemia (seed), Anesthesia (seed), Anorexia (seed), Anthelmintics (seed), Anti-bacterial agents (seed), Anticonvulsants (seed), Antifungal agents (seed), Anti-inflammatory agents (seed), Antimutagenic agents (seed), Antineoplastic agents (seed), Antioxidants (seed), Antipyretics (seed), Antirheumatic agents (seed), Antispermatogenic agents (seed), Anxiety disorders (seed), Appetite stimulants (seed), Arthritis (seed), Ascites (seed), Asthma (seed), Bronchial spasm (seed), Bronchodilator agents (seed), Cardiotonic agents (seed), Cathartics (seed), Central nervous system depressants (seed), Chemoprevention (seed), Colic (seed), Common cold (seed), Conjunctivitis (seed), Contraceptive agents (seed), Cough (seed), Dental caries (seed), Diabetes mellitus (seed), Diarrhea (seed), Digestive system diseases (seed), Diuretics (seed), Dysentery (seed), Dysmenorrhea (seed), Dyspepsia (seed), Eczema (seed), Edema (seed), Disorder of ejaculation (seed), Exanthema (seed), Eye infections (seed), Fever (seed), Flatulence (seed), Furunculosis (seed), Galactogogues (seed), Gout (seed), Headache (seed), Helminthiasis (seed), Hemorrhoids (seed), Hypercholesterolemia (seed), Hypoglycemic agents (seed), Hypotension (seed), Insecticides (seed), Jaundice (seed), Kidney calculi (seed), Kidney diseases (seed), Lactation disorders (seed), Laxatives (seed), Lipid peroxidation (seed), Liver diseases (seed), Lung diseases (seed), Menstruation-inducing agents (seed), Mumps (seed), Neuralgia (seed), Osteoporosis (seed), Paralysis (seed), Periodontitis (seed), Pharyngitis (seed), Puerperal disorders (seed), Rabies (seed), Radiation-protective agents (seed), General tonic for rejuvenation (seed), Scorpion stings (seed), Skin diseases (seed), Snake bites (seed), Tonsillitis (seed), Ulcer (seed), Uterine contraction (seed), Vitiligo (seed), Vomiting (seed), Eructation (seed), Diaphoretic (seed), Anus (unspecified), Atrophy (unspecified), Cachexia (unspecified), Convulsion (unspecified), Gum (unspecified), Leprosy (unspecified), Prolapse (unspecified), Smallpox (unspecified), Sore (unspecified), Syphilis (unspecified), Fever (unspecified), Hemorrhage (unspecified), Venereal (unspecified), Lactogogue (unspecified), Spasm (unspecified), Asthma (unspecified), Bactericide (unspecified), Cancer(Nose) (unspecified), Carminative (unspecified), Cough (unspecified), Digestive (unspecified), Diuretic (unspecified), Emmenagogue (unspecified), Eruption (unspecified), Excitant (unspecified), Jaundice (unspecified), Puerperium (unspecified), Purgative (unspecified), Resolvent (unspecified), Skin (unspecified), Spice (unspecified), Stimulant (unspecified), Stomachic (unspecified), Sudorific (unspecified), Tonic (unspecified), Tumor(Abdomen) (unspecified), Vermifuge (unspecified), Bilious (unspecified), Bronchitis (unspecified), Ache(Stomach) (unspecified), Lactagogue (unspecified), Sclerosis(Anus) (unspecified), Immunostimulant (unspecified), Amenorrhea (unspecified), Analgesics (unspecified), Anorexia (unspecified), Anthelmintics (unspecified), Anti-inflammatory agents (unspecified), Antipyretics (unspecified), Antirheumatic agents (unspecified), Appetite stimulants (unspecified), Bronchial spasm (unspecified), Common cold (unspecified), Diarrhea (unspecified), Diuretics (unspecified), Dysentery (unspecified), Dysmenorrhea (unspecified), Dyspepsia (unspecified), Endophthalmitis (unspecified), Expectorants (unspecified), Flatulence (unspecified), Galactogogues (unspecified), Gout (unspecified), Halitosis (unspecified), Headache (unspecified), Helminthiasis (unspecified), Hypohidrosis (unspecified), Inflammation (unspecified), Insect repellents (unspecified), Insecticides (unspecified), Lactation disorders (unspecified), Menstruation disturbances (unspecified), Menstruation-inducing agents (unspecified), Paralysis (unspecified), General tonic for rejuvenation (unspecified), Skin diseases (unspecified), Snake bites (unspecified), Urination disorders (unspecified), Antineoplastic agents (whole plant), Contraceptive agents (whole plant), Vitiligo (whole plant)
Human toxicity	-
Animal toxicity	-

Cultivation

It is grown from seed.

Mode	seedlings
Germination duration (days)	9 - 15
Germination temperacture (C°)	20 - 21
Germination luminosity	-
Germination treatment	-
Minimum temperature (C°)	-
Optimum temperature (C°)	14 - 26
Size	-
Vigor	-
Productivity	-