| Guizotia abyssinica | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| achenes | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Guizotia |
| Species: | G. abyssinica |
| Binomial name | |
| Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass. |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Guizotia oleifera DC. |
|
Guizotia abyssinica 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: noog/nug (Ethio-Semitic ኑግ nūg); niger, nyjer, or niger seed; ramtil or ramtilla; inga seed; and blackseed.
The seed, technically a fruit called an achene, 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 due to early marketing of the seed as "thistle" to take advantage of the finches' preference for thistle.
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 means black and looks similar to the racial slur "nigger".
The seed must be heat sterilized to prevent the seed from being introduced as an invasive species. Sterilization also kills the contaminant dodder seed.
Niger seeds are also used in southern parts of India. In Karnataka and Maharashtra, Niger seeds (called uchellu/gurellu and Karale in Kannada 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.
External links
- Plants for a Future database
- Multilingual taxonomic information from the University of Melbourne
- James A. Duke. 1983. Handbook of Energy Crops (unpublished)
- Nigerseed: Specialty Grain Opportunity for Midwestern US
- Ethiopian Plant Names By Aberra Molla
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