Practical
Plants

Nigella sativa

Black Cumin

an annual member of the Nigella genus in the family Ranunculaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Nigella
Life cycle
annual
Height
0.35 m
Spread
0.2 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - raw or cooked. Normally used as a flavouring on bread, cakes, curries, pickles etc[12][16][15][2][4]. There is a belief that eating the seed will make a woman's breasts plumper[9]. The seed is a very popular spice from the Mediterranean to India. It has a pungent flavour according to one report[13] whilst another says that it has a spicy fruity taste[7] and a third that the scent is somewhat like nutmeg[9]. The immature seed is bitter, but when fully ripe it is aromatic[16]. It is also used as a pepper substitute[12].

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Like many aromatic culinary herbs, the seeds of black cumin are beneficial for the digestive system, soothing stomach pains and spasms and easing wind, bloating and colic[10]. The ripe seed is anthelmintic, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, galactogogue, laxative and stimulant[12][16][13][7][8]. An infusion is used in the treatment of digestive and menstrual disorders, insufficient lactation and bronchial complaints[16][7]. The seeds are much used in India to increase the flow of milk in nursing mothers and they can also be used to treat intestinal worms, especially in children[10]. Externally, the seed is ground into a powder, mixed with sesame oil and used to treat abscesses, haemorrhoids and orchitis[7][8]. The powdered seed has been used to remove lice from the hair[9].

Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Digestive
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Galactogogue
Product or use
Parasiticide
Product or use
Stimulant

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The aromatic seed contains about 1.5% essential oil[8]. It is placed amongst clothes etc to repel moths[12]. The seeds can also be put in muslin bags and hung near a fire when they will fill the room with their delicious scent[9]. They need to be changed about every three weeks[9]. The seed contains 35% of a fatty oil[15][8].

Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
N. Africa to Ethiopia and W. Asia.
Habitat
Waste places, arable land and waysides[16].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring or early autumn in situ[1]. The autumn sowing might not be successful in harsh winters. Plants can be transplanted if necessary[6].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Easily grown in any good garden soil, preferring a sunny position[1][3]. Prefers a light soil in a warm position[11]. This species is often cultivated, especially in western Asia and India, for its edible seed[5]. The seed is aromatic with a nutmeg scent[9]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[14].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩

  3. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

    ↩

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  5. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  7. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  10. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  11. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩

  12. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  13. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  14. Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4

    ↩

  15. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  16. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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