Common Name:

General Information

Erucastrum arabicum is an annual plant growing up to 1 metre tal. It can be branched or unbranched[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, and possibly also as a source of oil.

Known Hazards

In Ethiopia it is believed by some that eating this plant can have side effects such as drowsiness and drying of the skin[].

Botanical References

Range

Africa - Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, eastern DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, S. Afri

Habitat

Disturbed places in upland forest, a weed in cultivated land; at elevations from sea level to 3,170 metres, though mainly at 1,500 - 2,000 metres[, ].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.75 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

An introduced weed in cultivated land in many parts of the world[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[]. The above-ground parts are chopped and boiled in salty water for about one hour, and eaten as a vegetable in sauces or soups[]. The young leaves can also be eaten raw as a salad[]. In some areas the plant is considered a typical famine food, though in other areas it is seen as a normal wild vegetable[].

The oil from the seed is possibly used as food after refining[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The seed contains around 35% oil[]. It is possibly used for lighting purposes[].

Propagation

Seed -

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