Flixweed, Herb sophia
Descurainia sophia

Family: Brassicaceae or Cruciferae

What it is like

Descurainia sophia is a ANNUAL/BIENNIAL growing to 0.9 m (3ft). It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. 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): 0.9

Where it is found

Waste ground and roadsides.

Europe to Asia. Possibly native to Britain.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, England, Estonia, Europe, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Siberia, Slovakia, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, USA, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Young leaves and shoots - cooked. A bitter flavour. Used as a potherb. Seed - raw or cooked. A pungent taste, it is used as a mustard substitute. The seed can be ground into a powder, mixed with cornmeal and used to make bread, or as a thickening for soups etc. It can also be sprouted and added to salads etc. A nourishing and cooling beverage can be made by mixing the ground up seeds with water to make a thin batter. The seed contains 25.5 - 29.9% protein, 26.9 - 39.7% fat and 3.6 - 3.9% ash on a zero moisture basis.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

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

Medicine

Rating: 2

A poultice of the plant has been used to ease the pain of toothache. The juice of the plant has been used in the treatment of chronic coughs, hoarseness and ulcerated sore throats. A strong decoction of the plant has proved excellent in the treatment of asthma. The flowers and the leaves are antiscorbutic and astringent. The seed is considered to be cardiotonic, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, laxative, restorative and tonic. It is used in the treatment of asthma, fevers, bronchitis, oedema and dysentery. It is also used in the treatment of worms and calculus complaints. It is decocted with other herbs for treating various ailments. The seeds have formed a special remedy for sciatica. A poultice of the ground up seeds has been used on burns and sores.

Antiasthmatic: Treats asthma.

Antiscorbutic: A plant rich in vitamin C that is used to counteract scurvy.

Antitussive: Prevents or relieves coughing.

Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Cardiotonic: A tonic for the heart.

Demulcent: Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes.

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

Dysentery: Used in treating dysentery - an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Laxative: Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.

Poultice: A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.

Vermifuge: Expels and kills internal parasites.

Other

Rating: 1

A semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed. Yields are not given. The leaves have been stored with corn to prevent it from going bad. D. sophia is a tertiary genetic relative of rape (Brassica napus) (Warwick et al. 2009). Given its moderate palatability to livestock (Pfister et al., 1990), this species is likely to have limited economic value for animal husbandry.

Preservative: For food, or for treating wood, ropes etc.

How it is grown

We have very little information on the needs of this species but, judging by its habitat it should succeed in most soils in a fairly sunny position.

Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in situ.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Annual/Biennial

Hardiness: 0-0

Growth:

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

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Classified as a noxious weed in Colorado and Minnesota, USA as well as in Canada. It is considered invasive in Mexico, Japan, Republic of Korea, Chile and Australia. an annual pioneer herb that colonises disturbed sites and is adapted to growing in dry environments. It is also a crop pest and can facilitate the establishment of other introduced species.

Its other names

Local names

Flaxweed tansymustard; flixweed tansymustard; herb-Sophia; herb-sophia; pinnate tansymustard. Spanish: ajenjo loco; ajenjo serifio; hieba de la sabiduría; hierba de los cirujanos; Sofia. French: descurainie sagesse; sagesse-des-chirurgiens; sisymbre sagesse. Portuguese: erva-Sofia. China: bo niang hao. Denmark: barberforstand; finbladet vejsennep. England and Wales: piblys. Finland: litutilli. Germany: Besenrauke; Sophienkraut. Iceland: Þefjurt. Italy: erba Sofia. Japan: kujira-gusa. Korea, Republic of: jaessug. Netherlands: Sofiekruid. Norway: hundesennep. Scotland: finéal muire. Spain: herba de la sabiduria; herba de Santa Sofia. Sweden: stillfrö. Also: Khubkallana, Masino tori jhar, Mihao, Thale cress, Yinchen.

Synonyms

Sisymbrium sophia.