Mignonette
Reseda odorata

Family: Resedaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It can be erect or lie over. It grows 45 cm high. The leaves are 3-7 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The lower leaves are entire and sword shaped. The upper leaves have 3 leaflets or lobes. The flowers have a sweet smell. They are yellowish-white. They are in groups up to 50 cm long in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The fruit is an almost round capsule. It hangs down. The seeds are black.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate or Mediterranean climate plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, Asia, Australia, Austria, Central Asia, Chile, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, East Africa, Egypt (country/location of origin), Europe, Greece, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Libya (country/location of origin), Mediterranean, Morocco, Myanmar, North Africa, North America, Pakistan, Palestine, Romania, Russia, SE Asia, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, USA, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The flowers are occasionally floated in a bowl of wine or added to ice cream. Mignonette flavoured salt is used in Turkish cooking with veal and lamb dishes.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Edible parts

Flowers - flavouring, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Mya-hmwe

Synonyms

Reseda arborea E. Vilm.; Reseda nilgherrensis Muell. Arg.; and others