Guizotia abyssinica

Ramtillkraut without bloom.

The Ramtillkraut ( Guizotia abyssinica, Syn: .. Guizotia oleifera DC, Guizotia scabra ( Vis. ) Chiov ), also called Gingellikraut, a plant belonging to the daisy family is (Asteraceae).

This originally native to Africa, from Ethiopia to Malawi species was probably domesticated in Ethiopia. The domesticated plant was probably introduced to India already three thousand years ago by the people. It is mainly grown in Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Burma and Nepal. The Ramtillkraut is found as a neophyte in Central Europe and is spread with bird seed, but holds only temporarily because of the climatic conditions.

Description

The Ramtillkraut is a branched, annual herbaceous plant that reaches the stature heights of up to 1.8 m. In the lower part of the stem, the leaves are opposite, the upper region they are arranged opposite one another. The simple leaves are 10-20 cm long and 3-5 cm wide.

Two to three basket- shaped inflorescences stand together. The flower heads have a diameter of 15 to 50 mm and contain eight zygomorphe tongue and usually 40 to 60 radiärsymmetrische tubular flowers. The ray floret is purely female, yellow or rarely greenish and 5 to 20 mm long. The tubular corolla is hermaphroditic and yellow to light orange and contains yellow stamens and a hairy stylus. The bracts ( husk ) are in two rows, the inner bracts resemble the leaves chaff ( chaff sheet ) on the basket floor. At the base of each flower there is a fringe of hair. Pollination is by insects. This species is self-fertile. Are formed as diasporas achenes.

The growing season of this kind lasts from May to October and the flowering period extends from August to September, and the seeds ripen from September to October.

Use

Ramtillkraut is mainly grown in India, Burma, Ethiopia and Nepal. The seeds of this species are called Niger seed, niger seed or Negersaat. Parts of plants of this type are used in many ways. The Niger seeds, the oil- containing seeds and have a high fat and protein content.

The seeds are eaten after cooking. From the seeds flour is produced. The oil from the seeds you use for the production of soaps and colors. Medically, the oil is used for the relief of rheumatism.

Play The seeds in the diet of both forest and ornamental birds, as supplementary feed a medium to large role, especially sprouted.

In microbiology, the seeds are used for the selective culturing of pathogenic agents ( Negersaat agar ).

Swell

• Versatile information on the type of James A. Duke: Handbook of Energy Crops, unpublished 1983 ( English).
• Information for cultivation of this Article (English)
• Entry at Plants for a Future. (English)