Camelina sativa

Botanical Description

Camelina sativa is an erect annual plant that usually grows 30 - 80cm tall, though it can reach 100cm. In situations of open growth the plant often develops a wide-branching growth habit - however, when it is found as a weed with flax, the plant takes on a taller less branched form which resembles a flax plant[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. , 413 Title Global Invasive Species Database Publication Author Website http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Very detailed information on almost 400 species (with more being added) of plants that have become weeds in areas outside their native range. ]. Camelina sativa has a very long history of cultivation for its oil in Europe - it was an important agricultural crop as far back as the Iron and Bronze ages [ 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. ]. From the time of the Roman empire to the discovery of gas and electricity, the oil obtained from its seed was the favourite one used in oil lamps and was also a common edible product[ 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. ]. It is still occasionally cultivated for the oil in its seed[ 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. , 171 Title Economic Botany. Publication Author Hill. A. F. Publisher The Maple Press Year 1952 ISBN - Description Not very comprehensive, but it is quite readable and goes into some detail about the plants it does cover. ], and interest in the plant as a commercial crop has increased in the 21st century with the desire for alternative crops and especially novel oil crops. The plant is also a source of fibre and is used for making brushes. The plant has become a noxious weed of cultivated fields in some of the areas into which it has been introduced[ 2 Title Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Publication Author Hedrick. U. P. Publisher Dover Publications Year 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6 Description Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references. ]. However, it is primarily a minor weed in flax crops (Linum usitatissimum) and not often a problem in other crops