Fixweed, Herb-Sophia, Tansy mustard
Descurainia sophia

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb. It is an annual or biennial plant. It is almost 0.4-1 m high. The leaves do not have stalks. They are narrow, oblong and taper towards the tip. The flowers are yellow. The fruit is a pod. It is narrow. The seeds are 1 mm long by 0.5 mm wide.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It occurs in waste ground and along roadsides. Plants will grow in most soil types. It grows on roadsides, waste places, disturbed sites, fields, pastures, deserts from near sea level to 4200 m altitude in China. In Nepal it grows between 2000-4000 m altitude. It can grow in arid places and salty soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The young leaves are eaten cooked. They have a bitter flavour. The seeds are eaten raw or roasted. They are a mustard substitute. The seeds can be sprouted and eaten in salads and sandwiches. They are also used to make a drink.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, spice, seeds - oil

How it is grown

It grows from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Aca, Flaxweed, Khubkallana, Lassinu di sceccu, Masino tori jhar, Mihao, Roosh, Thale cress, Yinchen

Synonyms

Sisymbrium sophia Linnaeus; Sophia parviflora (Lam.) Standl.; and others