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Guizotia abyssinica
  • Niger Seed

an annual member of the Guizotia genus in the family Compositae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Green manure
    Green manure
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • ?
    Unknown
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Guizotia abyssinica has 0 edible uses listed
Guizotia abyssinica has 0 material uses listed
Guizotia abyssinica has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

The seed is eaten fried, used as a condiment or dried then ground into a powder and mixed with flour etc to make sweet cakes[1][2][3][4]. Average seed yields in India range from 100 - 200 kg/ha when grown with ragi, and 300 - 400 kg/ha when grown in pure stands[5]. In Kenya, monocultural yields average 600 kg/ha[5]. Seed yields of 1,000 to 1,200 kg/ha have been obtained on fertile Himalayan soils[5]. Oil yields range about 235 kg/ha[5]. The seeds yield about 30% of a clear, excellent, slow-drying edible oil[5]. It is used as a substitute for olive oil, can be mixed with linseed oil, and is used as an adulterant for rape oil, sesame oil etc[5]. The oil is used in cooking as a ghee substitute and can be used in salad dressings etc[4][5]. A pleasant nutty taste[6].

Unknown part

Condiment
Oil

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

A drying oil is obtained from the seed[7][8][9][2][10]. It is used for burning, in making soap, paints etc[11][12][5]. The plant can be used as a green manure[13]. It is usually dug in when the plants are about to come into flower[5].

Unknown part

Oil

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The oil from the seeds is used in the treatment of rheumatism[14][15][5]. It is also applied to treat burns[16]. A paste of the seeds is applied as a poultice in the treatment of scabies[16].

Unknown part

Antirheumatic
Parasiticide
Poultice

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Green manure

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ and only just cover the seed. Make sure the soil does not dry out because this would delay germination. In warm weather, germination should take place within 3 - 4 days of sowing the seed. When sowing larger areas, the seed may be broadcast at rate of 10 kg/ha or sown in rows 40 to 50 cm apart at rate of 5 kg/ha[5].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Guizotia abyssinica. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any rich soil[7]. The plant is adapted to a wide range of soils, from sandy to heavy, growth being poor on light sandy or gravelly soils[5]. Niger is often cultivated on very poor acid soils, on hilly slopes, where fertility is low due to leaching and washing away of the plant nutrients by erosion[5]. Niger seed is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation of 66 to 179cm, an annual temperature range of 13.6 to 27.5°C and a pH in the range of 5.5 to 7.5[5].

Niger is often cultivated, especially in Africa, as an oil seed crop[8][2][17][5], it has also been cultivated in Germany[13]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[5].

Several factors lend credence to fears that niger might become a pest if introduced into warm temperate areas - grazing animals do not relish it, the plant tolerates poor soil and drought, it has few serious pests or diseases especially outside its native range, the seeds store for a year or more without deterioration, and the seeds mature 3 - 4.5 months after planting[5]. Arguing against its weed potential are the facts that it is a short day plant and therefore does not flower or set seed until daylight hours average 13 hours or less, it is self-sterile, and requires bees for pollination[5].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Guizotia abyssinica. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Guizotia abyssinica.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Guizotia abyssinica
Genus
Guizotia
Family
Compositae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Medicinal uses
[14][15][5][16]
Material uses & Functions
[7][8][9][2][10][11][12][5][13]
Botanic
[9][18]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Green manure
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
?
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    annual
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1.8 x meters
    Fertility
    self sterile
    Pollinators
    Insects
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Sholto-Douglas. J. Alternative Foods. ()
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.4 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    5. ? 5.005.015.025.035.045.055.065.075.085.095.105.115.125.135.145.155.165.175.185.195.20 Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - (1983-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press ISBN 0-12-136450-x (1975-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.2 Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Schery. R. W. Plants for Man. ()
    12. ? 12.012.1 Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth. ()
    13. ? 13.013.113.2 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.1 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)
    15. ? 15.015.1 Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. (1993-00-00)
    16. ? 16.016.116.2 Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-527-6 (2002-00-00)
    17. ? Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press (1984-00-00)
    18. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

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    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Guizotia_abyssinica&oldid=77595"
    Facts about "Guizotia abyssinica"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyCompositae +
    Belongs to genusGuizotia +
    Functions asGreen manure +
    Has common nameNiger Seed +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part + and Seeds +
    Has edible useSeasoning +, Oil + and Unknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf sterile + and Insects +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has imageGuizotia abyssinica niger.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useOil +
    Has mature height1.8 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntirheumatic +, Parasiticide + and Poultice +
    Has primary imageGuizotia_abyssinica_niger.jpg +
    Has search nameguizotia abyssinica + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameGuizotia abyssinica +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +