Guizotia abyssinica

Guizotia abyssinica or noog (Ethio-Semitic ኑግ nūg) is an erect, stout, branched annual herb, grown for its edible oil and seed. Its cultivation originated in the Ethiopian highlands, and has spread to other parts of Ethiopia. Common names include niger and nyjer.

The seed is often sold as bird seed as it is a favourite of finches, especially Goldfinch and Greenfinch. In the bird seed market, Nyjer is often sold or referred to as thistle seed. This is a misnomer resulting from when the seed was first sold, and marketed as thistle seed to take advantage of the finches' preference for thistle.

The seed, which can be called "birdnip" is well loved by goldfinches and will result in a feeding frenzy when presented in specially designed feeders. Goldfinches spend every waking moment in their surroundings looking for seeds, but once the word is out that there is Nyjer in your yard they will abandon all other sources of food and head straight for your feeder. Different kinds of feeder are availble, the easist access is a mesh feeder from fine mesh or nylon, they can cling to it with their claws. The feed is very expensive and if you want to make it last you can purchase a feeder with tiny slits in it below the perch making the goldfinches feed upside down, which the larger housefinches may find difficult to do.

The suppliers have patented the name Nyjer so as not to confuse it with the less desirable thistle seed, and to get away from the Niger name which really means black.

The seed is quite expensive as it is imported usually from Ethiopia and India and must be heat sterilized to prevent the seed form growing and being introduced as new weed. Sterilization is also designed to sterilize dodder seed which can contaminate the Nyjer. This is despite the fact that dodder is already well established in chapparal, and the Nyjer does not grow well in the USA.

External links

• Plants for a Future database

• Multilingual taxonomic information from the University of Melbourne
• James A. Duke. 1983. Handbook of Energy Crops (unpublished)

Niger Seeds are also used in southern parts of India. In Karnataka and Maharashtra states , Niger seeds (called Uchellu and Karale in Kannada (local language of Karnataka) and Marathi respectively are used to make a dry Chutney which is used as an accompaniment with breads. They are also used as a spice in some curries. The fresh aromatic fragrance of this seed is very popular especially in North-karnataka.

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