Nigella

Nigella is a genus of 18 species[1] of annual plants in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Southern Europe, North Africa, South Asia, Southwest Asia and Middle East. Common names applied to members of this genus are nigella, devil-in-a-bush or love-in-a-mist.

For other uses, see Nigella (disambiguation).

Nigella
Nigella damascena seed capsule
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Subfamily: Ranunculoideae
Tribe: Nigelleae
Genus: Nigella
L.
Species
  • Nigella arvensis
  • Nigella carpatha
  • Nigella damascena
  • Nigella degenii
  • Nigella deserti
  • Nigella doerfleri
  • Nigella elata
  • Nigella fumariifola
  • Nigella hispanica
  • Nigella latisecta
  • Nigella nigellastrum
  • Nigella orientalis
  • Nigella oxypetala
  • Nigella papillosa
  • Nigella sativa
  • Nigella segetalis
  • Nigella stricta
  • Nigella unguicularis

The species grow to 20–90 cm (8–35 in) tall, with finely divided leaves; the leaf segments are narrowly linear to threadlike. The flowers are white, yellow, pink, pale blue or pale purple, with five to ten petals. The fruit is a capsule composed of several united follicles, each containing numerous seeds; in some species (e.g. Nigella damascena), the capsule is large and inflated.

Uses
Nigella seeds

Culinary
Further information: Nigella sativa

The seeds of Nigella sativa, known as kalonji, black cumin, black onion seed, onion seed or just nigella, are used as a spice and a condiment in Pakistani cuisine, Ethiopian cuisine, Middle Eastern and Polish cuisines.[2]

Garden flowers
Nigella in full bloom
Blue Nigella

Several species are grown as ornamental plants in gardens. Nigella damascena has been grown in English cottage gardens since the Elizabethan era, commonly called love-in-a-mist. Nigella hispanica is a taller species with larger blue flowers, red stamens, and grey leaves. Nigella seeds are self-sowing if the seed pods are left to mature.

The dried seed capsules can also be used in flower arrangements.

Other

In traditional medicine, the seeds are used as a carminative and stimulant to ease bowel and indigestion problems, and are given to treat intestinal worms, nerve defects, to reduce flatulence, and induce sweating. Dried pods are sniffed to restore a lost sense of smell. It is also used to repel some insects, much like mothballs.

Nigella orientalis, Muséum de Toulouse

References
  1. "Nigella". The Plant List. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
  2. Peter, K.V. (2004). "Nigella". Handbook of herbs and spices. 2. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 1-85573-721-3. OCLC 56811946.

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