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Sinapis alba
  • White Mustard

an annual member of the Sinapis genus in the family Brassicaceae.

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
    Acid to Alkaline
    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
  • 6
    Zone 6
    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
Sinapis alba has 0 edible uses listed
Sinapis alba has 0 material uses listed
Sinapis alba has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The seed contains substances that irritate the skin and mucous membranes[1]. The plant is possibly poisonous once the seedpods have formed[2].

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves - raw or cooked[3][4][5][6]. A hot pungent flavour, especially if eaten raw[K]. Young leaves are used as a flavouring in mixed salads, whilst older leaves are used as a potherb[7].

Seed - sprouted and eaten raw[8][9][10][6]. The seed takes about 4 days to be ready[11]. A hot flavour, it is often used in salads. A nutritional analysis is available[12].

The seed can be ground into a powder and used as a food flavouring[13][9][14][15], it is the 'white mustard' of commerce[16][17]. This is milder than the black mustard obtained from Brassica nigra[7]. The pungency of mustard develops when cold water is added to the ground-up seed - an enzyme (myrosin) acts on a glycoside (sinigrin) to produce a sulphur compound. The reaction takes 10 - 15 minutes. Mixing with hot water or vinegar, or adding salt, inhibits the enzyme and produces a mild bitter mustard[1].

Unknown part

Condiment

Leaves

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

The seed contains up to 35% of a semi-drying oil[18]. It is used as a lubricant and for lighting etc[19][20][21][22]. The plant can be grown as a green manure crop[13][14]. It is very fast growing, producing a good bulk in just a few weeks from seed, but it is shallow rooted so does not do so well in dry periods[23]. It is also susceptible to all the diseases of the cabbage family such as club-root so is best avoided if this is likely to be a problem[13].

Unknown part

Oil

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The seed is antibacterial, antifungal, appetizer, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, rubefacient and stimulant[5][24][12][1]. The seed has a cathartic action due to hydrolytic liberation of hydrogen sulphide[12]. In China it is used in the treatment of coughs with profuse phlegm and tuberculosis, pleurisy[24]. The seed is seldom used internally as a medicine in the west[1]. Externally it is usually made into mustard plasters (using the ground seed), poultices or added to the bath water. It is used in the treatment of respiratory infections, arthritic joints, chilblains and skin eruptions etc[1]. At a ratio of 1:3, the seed has an inhibitory action on the growth of fungus[24]. Care should be exercised in using this remedy because the seed contains substances that are extremely irritant to the skin and mucous membranes[1]. The leaves are carminative[12].

Unknown part

Antibacterial
Antifungal
Appetizer
Carminative
Cathartic
Diaphoretic
Digestive
Diuretic
Emetic
Expectorant
Rubefacient
Stimulant
Vesicant

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Green manure


Fumigant

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ from early spring to late summer. Germination takes place in less than a week. The earlier sowings are for a seed crop, the later sowings are for edible leaves and green manure[25]. When sowing seed for use in mustard and cress, the seed is soaked for about 12 hours in warm water and then placed in a humid position. Traditionally, it is sown in a tray on a thin layer of soil, or on some moist blotting paper, and the tray is placed in a warm dark place for a few days to encourage rapid and rather etiolated growth. The seedlings can then be placed in a lighter position for a couple more days to turn green before being eaten. The mustard seed should be sown about 3 - 4 days later than the cress for them both to be ready at the same time[26].

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



Cultivation

Prefers a light well-drained soil[6]. Succeeds on most soils when growing in a sunny position[1]. For best production, it requires high nutrient soils with a high level of nitrogen, but it may be grown on a wide range of soils from light to heavy, growing best on relatively heavy sandy loamy soils[27]. It is not suited to very wet soils[27]. White mustard grows best where the annual precipitation varies from 35 to 179cm, annual temperature from 5.6 to 24.9°C and pH from 4.5 to 8.2[27].

White mustard is a quick-growing long-day annual which prefers temperate climates with some humidity. It is sometimes cultivated, both in the garden and commercially, for its edible seed[28][7]. The plant can withstand high temperatures, but very hot days during flowering and ripening may reduce seed setting and lower quality of seed[27]. There are some named varieties[7]. It is a very fast growing plant, but requires plenty of moisture for optimum growth[23]. Seed yields are usually a bit less than 1 tonne per hectare, though experimental plantings have suggested that up to 8 tonnes per hectare is possible[27]. White mustard is sometimes also grown as a seed sprout, usually with cress seeds (Lepidium sativum) to supply mustard and cress. This is a mixture of the two types of sprouted seeds, used when about 7 - 10 days old[K]. The mustard seed should be sown three days before the cress seed[1].

The plant is not very deep rooted[23], it self-sows freely when in a suitable site[5].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Sinapis alba. 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 Sinapis alba.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Sinapis alba
Genus
Sinapis
Family
Brassicaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][1]
Medicinal uses
[5][24][12][1]
Material uses & Functions
[18][19][20][21][22][13][14][23]
Botanic
[13][29]
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
6
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
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
    vigorous
    Mature Size
    0.6 x 0.3
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:Koeh-265.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Koeh-265.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Koeh-265.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Koeh-265.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.71.81.9 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (32202/01/01)
    2. ? Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO ISBN 0112425291 (32202/01/01)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (32202/01/01)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins ISBN 0-00-219060-5 (32202/01/01)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.4 Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87857-262-7 (32202/01/01)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn (32202/01/01)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.37.4 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (32202/01/01)
    8. ? 8.08.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (32202/01/01)
    9. ? 9.09.19.2 Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press (32202/01/01)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. (32202/01/01)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. ISBN 0-330-30725-8 (32202/01/01)
    12. ? 12.012.112.212.312.412.5 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (32202/01/01)
    13. ? 13.013.113.213.313.413.5 Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (32202/01/01)
    14. ? 14.014.114.214.3 Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press ISBN 0-7012-0784-1 (32202/01/01)
    15. ? 15.015.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (32202/01/01)
    16. ? 16.016.1 Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press ISBN 0192176218 (32202/01/01)
    17. ? 17.017.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (32202/01/01)
    18. ? 18.018.1 Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (32202/01/01)
    19. ? 19.019.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (32202/01/01)
    20. ? 20.020.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (32202/01/01)
    21. ? 21.021.1 Schery. R. W. Plants for Man. ()
    22. ? 22.022.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (32202/01/01)
    23. ? 23.023.123.223.3 Woodward. L. Burge. P. Green Manures. Elm Farm Research Centre. (32202/01/01)
    24. ? 24.024.124.224.3 Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles (32202/01/01)
    25. ? Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (32202/01/01)
    26. ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. ISBN 0 333 62640 0 (32202/01/01)
    27. ? 27.027.127.227.327.4 Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - (32202/01/01)
    28. ? Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (32202/01/01)
    29. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)



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    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Sinapis_alba&oldid=82099"
    Facts about "Sinapis alba"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteFalse +
    Article requires citationsFalse +
    Article requires cleanupFalse +
    Belongs to familyBrassicaceae +
    Belongs to genusSinapis +
    Functions asGreen manure + and Fumigant +
    Has binomial nameSinapis alba +
    Has common nameWhite Mustard +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +, Leaves + and Seed +
    Has edible useCondiment + and Unknown use +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has growth rateVigorous +
    Has hardiness zone6 +
    Has imageKoeh-265.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useOil +
    Has mature height0.6 +
    Has mature width0.3 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntibacterial +, Antifungal +, Appetizer +, Carminative +, Cathartic +, Diaphoretic +, Digestive +, Diuretic +, Emetic +, Expectorant +, Rubefacient +, Stimulant + and Vesicant +
    Has primary imageKoeh-265.jpg +
    Has search namesinapis alba + and white mustard +
    Has seed requiring scarificationFalse +
    Has seed requiring stratificationFalse +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameSinapis alba +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedNo +
    Tolerates air pollutionFalse +
    Tolerates maritime exposureFalse +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilFalse +
    Tolerates windFalse +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Sinapis alba +, Sinapis alba +, Sinapis alba +, Sinapis alba +, Sinapis alba +, Sinapis alba +, Sinapis alba +, Sinapis alba +, Sinapis alba +, Sinapis alba +, Sinapis alba +, Sinapis alba +, Sinapis alba +, Sinapis alba +, Sinapis alba +, Sinapis alba + and Sinapis alba +