Mountain Tansy Mustard

Descurainia incana

Physical Characteristics

Descurainia incana is a ANNUAL/BIENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). 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 dry or moist soil.

Distribution

Western N. America. A casual in Britain[17].

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Seed Edible Uses: Young leaves - cooked. A bitter taste[85]. Seed - raw or cooked[46, 105]. The seed can be used as a mustard substitute in soups, stews etc. It can be roasted, ground into a powder then mixed with water to make a fine batter and drunk[257]. The seed is also ground into a meal and mixed with cereal flours when making bread, or as a thickening for soups etc[61, 85].

Medicinal Uses

Poultice The plant has been used as a lotion for parts of the body that have become frozen in the cold and also as a lotion for sore throats[257]. No more information is given, but it is likely that the crushed seed was used for this since, being similar to mustard, it will probably have a rubefacient effect upon the skin, drawing more blood to that area of the body and thereby heating it[K]. The plant is mashed and applied to bad cuts[257].

Known Hazards

None known