Curled Mustard
Brassica juncea integrifolia crispifolia

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

Known food crop for its edible leaves, Curled Mustard or Brassica juncea is an erect annual plant that grows up to 30 cm tall. It is grown from seeds and is used as a green manure. It prefers temperate areas as it is not resistant to drought. The leaves are eaten raw and added into salads or cooked as vegetables. Sweet and succulent flowers and young flowering stems are also eaten raw or cooked. The seed, on the other hand, contains edible semi-drying oil. It is also the source of “brown mustard” and is used whole in curries and pickles. Curled mustard is also used as medicine. In particular, it is use against arthritis, foot ache, lumbago and rheumatism. The seed is used as treatment for tumours, abscesses, colds, lumbago, rheumatism, and stomach disorders. The root is used to increase milk supply in lactating women. The oil is used as treatment for skin disorders and ulcers. Lastly, the leaves are used to relieve headache, inflammation, bladder, and haemorrhage.

Brassica juncea integrifolia crispifolia is a ANNUAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 0.3

Where it is found

Not known in the wild.

A cultivar of garden origin

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Coming Soon

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Leaves - raw or cooked. A peppery flavour that can range from mild to hot, this is one of the most highly prized cooked vegetables in the Orient. The leaves can also be finely shredded and added to mixed salads. The protein extracted from the leaves mixes well with banana pulp and is well adapted as a pie filling. Flowers and young flowering stems - raw or cooked. Sweet and succulent. An edible semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed. The seed contains 25 - 30% oil. The seed is used as a mustard flavouring. It is the source of 'brown mustard', a prepared mustard that is milder than that produced from other species. 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. Black mustard comes from B. nigra and white mustard from Sinapis alba. The seed is also used whole in curries and pickles. They are often heated in oil to destroy their pungency and give them a nutty flavour. Sprouted seeds can be added to salads.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Stem: this often intergrades into leaves.

Condiment: the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.

Medicine

Rating: 2

Reported to be anodyne, aperitif, diuretic, emetic, rubefacient, and stimulant, the plant is a folk remedy for arthritis, foot ache, lumbago, and rheumatism. The seed is used in the treatment of tumours in China. In Korea, the seeds are used in the treatment of abscesses, colds, lumbago, rheumatism, and stomach disorders. The root is used as a galactagogue in Africa. Ingestion may impart a body odour repellent to mosquitoes. Mustard oil is used in the treatment of skin eruptions and ulcers. Believed to be aperient and tonic, the volatile oil is used as a counterirritant and stimulant. In Java the plant is used as an antisyphilitic emmenagogue. Leaves applied to the forehead are said to relieve headache. The Chinese eat the leaves in soups for bladder, inflammation or haemorrhage.

Anodyne: Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.

Antiarthritic: Treats arthritis.

Antiinflammatory: Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.

Antirheumatic: Treats rheumatism.

Antitumor: Preventing, or effective against, tumors, it is used in the treatment of cancer. Probably synonymous with Cytotoxic.

Aperient: A mild laxative.

Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.

Emetic: Induces vomiting.

Galactogogue: Promotes the flow of milk in a nursing mother.

Laxative: Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.

Rubefacient: A counter-irritant and external stimulant, it produces inflammation and redness of the skin.

Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.

Stimulant: Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.

Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Other

Rating: 2

Other uses rating: Low (2/5). Agroforestry Uses: There is some evidence that if this plant is grown as a green manure it is effective in reducing soil-borne root rots in pea crops. This is attributed to chemicals that are given off as the plants decay. Other Uses None known

Green manure: Fast-growing plants that can be used to increase the fertility of the soil.

Repellent: Plants that are said to deter but not necessarily kill various mammals, birds, insects etc.

Soil reclamation: Plants that can be grown in such circumstances an the spoil tips of mines in order to restore fertility.

Teeth: Plants used to clean and care for the teeth.

How it is grown

A form of B. juncea with curled leaves that has been selected in the Orient for its edibility. There are some named varieties. Very hardy in cold weather, it is used more in temperate areas than in tropical ones. Succeeds in full sun in most well-drained moisture-retentive fertile soils. Prefers a heavy soil and some shade. Dislikes very hot weather. Plants tolerate high rainfall and, although fairly deep rooted, are not very drought resistant. Plants have a rooting depth of between 90 - 120 cm. A good bee plant.

Propagating it: Seed - sow in situ from August to October. Spring and early summer-sown crops tend to run quickly to seed, though they can be eaten whilst still small. It is best not to sow the seed in very hot weather. There are about 5,660 - 6,000 per 0.01 kg (1/3 oz).

Best place to grow:

Habit: Annual

Hardiness: 6-10

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Curled Mustard or Brassica juncea

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.