Brassica carinata
Brassica carinata
Safety & Hazards
The oil contained in the seed of this species is rich in erucic acid which is toxic. However, modern cultivars have been selected which are almost free of erucic acid.
Botanical Description
Brassica carinata is an erect, annual plant, sometimes becoming biennial or even a short-lived perennial. It usually grows around 100cm tall but can sometimes reach 180cm[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. A popular leaf crop in Africa, where the plant is often cultivated, it also provides edible seeds and an oil. Usually grown as a home crop, the plant is also sometimes cultivated commercially and sold in local markets[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. The seeds are also a source of the condiment 'mustard' though the plant is scarcely used outside of the highlands of Kenya and Ethiopia for this purpose. This species has been receiving some attention as a potential alternative crop[ 289 Title The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database Publication Author Website http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops. ]. Preliminary evaluation made in Spain has also indicated a very good potential for biomass production[ 289 Title The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database Publication Author Website http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops. ].