Flixweed, Herb sophia

Descurainia sophia

Physical Characteristics

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.

Distribution

Europe to Asia. Possibly native to Britain[17].

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Seed Shoots Edible Uses: Condiment Young leaves and shoots - cooked[105, 272]. A bitter flavour[85]. Used as a potherb[183, 257]. Seed - raw or cooked[46]. A pungent taste, it is used as a mustard substitute[61, 74, 105, 183]. The seed can be ground into a powder, mixed with cornmeal and used to make bread, or as a thickening for soups etc[61, 85, 183]. It can also be sprouted and added to salads etc[183]. A nourishing and cooling beverage can be made by mixing the ground up seeds with water to make a thin batter[257]. The seed contains 25.5 - 29.9% protein, 26.9 - 39.7% fat and 3.6 - 3.9% ash on a zero moisture basis[218].

Medicinal Uses

Antiasthmatic Antiscorbutic Antitussive Astringent Cardiotonic Demulcent Diuretic Dysentery Febrifuge Laxative Poultice Vermifuge 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.

Known Hazards

None known