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CRUC1FERAE
3. Brassica nigra (Linn.i Koch in Rohling's DeutschJ. Fl. ed. 3, 4; 713. 1833. (Fig. 158).
Stnapsis nigra Linn.—Sinapsis erysimoides Roxb.—Brassica sinapioides Roth.—Melannsinapsis
communis Spenn.
Engl. Black mustard; Sinh. Gan-aba, Kalu-aba; Tarn. Kadugu; Hindi Aslrai,
Banarasirai, Ghorrai. Jagrai, Kalirai, Lahi, Makrarai. Rai. Taramira, Tira; Sans. Asuri.
Atitikshva. Jwalanti, Jv alaiprabha, Katuasurt, Knmika, Krishnasarshapa, Krishnika, Kshava,
Kshavaka, Kshudhabhijanana. Kshujjanika, Kshutabhijanaka. Kshutaka. Madhurika, Rajl.
Rajika. Raktasarshapa. Raktika, Sarshar-a, Tikshnagandha.
A large, branching, annual herb, 0.5—1.5 m tall, hispid, internodes 4—5 cm long:
leaves irregularly lobed or pinnate with a large terminal lobe and I—3 pairs of progressively
smaller ones below, 11.6—17.3 cm long, terminal lobe 8.7—12.5 cm long, 5—10 cm broad,
margin serrate, glabrous above and hispid along veins beneath; petioles 1.5—4.5 cm long,
hispid and purplish in colour: flowers regular, bisexual in a terminal panicle of branched
racemes, ebracteate, bracteoles foliar, lanceolate, 1.4—5.5 cm long, 0.3—1.9 cm broad,
glabrous on both surfaces and petiolate; pedicel 4 mm long, glabrous; sepals 4, 5 mm long,
I .2 mm hroad, linear—oblong, imbricate, glabrous and spreading almost horizontally; petals
4 .1 cm long, 4.5 mm broad, yellow, spathulate tapering to a petiolate base; stamens 6, hypogynous
tetradynamous, the two short-filamented laterals inserted lower than the others, filaments
of outer stamens 2.5mm long and those of the inner ones 3.6 mm long, anthers 1.5 mm long;
ovary superior, 2-carpellary, 2-locular, 3 mm long, style and stigma 2.7 mm long;
fruit a fusiform, glabrous siliqua. I—2.5 cm long: seeds round and brown, 1.5—2 mm in
diameter and minutely pitted.
Illustrations. Bentley and Trimen, Med. Plants, pi. 22. 1880; Kirtikar and Basu,
Indian Med. Plants, rl. MB. 1933.
Distribution. A weed in waste and cultivated ground in England, Asia Minor, N.W.
India, S. Siberia, N. Africa, N. and S. America and the Mediterranean regions. It is frequently
cultivated in India", Tibet, and other tropical countries.
Composition. Besides the alkaloid sinapine, the seeds contain myrosin, sinigrin, inosite,
albumins, gums, colouring matter and fixed and volatile oils of mustard.
Uses. A poultice of trie-ground seeds is very useful for cases of febrile and inflammatory
diseases, interna! congestions, spasmodic, neuralgic and rheumatic affections. A paste of the
seed along with other ingredients is applied on pimples and urticaria.
The oil extracted from the seeds is a stimulant and mild counter-irritant when applied
externally. Hence, it is useful against sore throat, internal congestion and chronic muscular
rheumatism.
Ground mustard is eaten with roast meats as it promotes digestion.
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