White mustard
Sinapis alba

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb. It grows 50-80 cm high. It spreads 15 cm wide. It grows each year from seed. The stems are upright and branch towards the top. All the leaves have stalks. The leaves are oval and have lobes. They are bright green and sometimes have violet spots. There are up to 50 small yellow flowers in a group. The fruit are pods 2.5-5 cm long. The pods are hairy and have 1-4 seeds. They have beaks 1-3 cm long.

There are 8 Sinapis species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It does not produce seeds in the tropics. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 7-11. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Central Africa, Central Asia, China, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, East Africa, Europe, Greece, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Laos, Libya, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mediterranean (country/location of origin), Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Serbia, Sicily, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, USA, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

It provides edible oil. The seeds are used as a spice. They are used for white mustard. The dried ground seeds make hot English mustard eaten with roast beef. The sprouted seeds are used for mustard cress in salads. The young seedlings are used in salads and sandwiches. The leaves of mature plants can be used as a potherb. They are cooked with eggs.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is cultivated for its seeds. These are an important condiment. More than 160,000 tons of seeds are sold each year. Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, herb, spice, flowers, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. In the tropics they are grown in the cooler months. Seed are scattered on the surface of the soil in a fine seed bed.

Leaves can be cut in about 6 days. The seeds contain about 35% oil.

Its other names

Local names

Bela gorčica, Beyaz hardal, Ela-aba, Gerdel, Hardal, Hot-cai trang, Kagudu, Khardal abiad, Lapsana, Lassani, Mazzareddu, Mostaza blanca, Sada sorisha shak, Venkaduku, Xerdel, Yaolaisa guphu

Synonyms

Brassica hirta Moench.; Brassica alba (Linnaeus) Rabenhorst;