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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Descurainia pinnata is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Sisymbrium canescens. Walt. Sophia halictorum. S. pinnata.

Plant Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Seed Seedpod
Edible Uses: Condiment

Young leaves - cooked[46, 61, 85, 94, 183]. A bitter flavour[85]. Eaten as greens in the spring, they are said to have a salty flavour[216, 257]. The seedpods make an interesting mustard-flavoured nibble[183]. Seed - raw or cooked. Used as a piñole[257]. The seed has a mustard flavour and can be used to flavour soups or as a condiment with corn[92, 257]. The seed can also ground into a powder, mixed with cornmeal and used to make bread, or as a thickening for soups etc[85, 92, 94, 183]. In Mexico the seeds are made into a refreshing drink with lime juice, claret and syrup[61, 183]. The seeds are said to taste somewhat like black mustard and were utilized as food by Native American peoples such as the Navajo.

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Diuretic Expectorant Odontalgic Poultice Stomachic

Diuretic, expectorant, poultice[94]. The ground up seeds have been used in the treatment of stomach complaints[257]. A poultice of the plant has been used to ease the pain of toothache[257]. An infusion of the leaves has been used as a wash on sores[257].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

The flowers are attractive to butterflies. Tansymustard is toxic to grazing animals in large quantities due to nitrates and thiocyanates; however, it is a nutritious in smaller amounts. See known hazards above.

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have almost no information on this species but judging by its native range it should succeed in most parts of Britain and is probably not too fussy about soil or situation. We suggest growing it in a dry to moist soil in a sunny position.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Tansy mustard, Mountain tansy mustard, Tansy Mustard, Western tansymustard, Menzies' tansymustard, Nelson's tansymustard, Payson's tansymustard

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Québec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, Nunavut), United States (Indiana, Michigan, New Hampshire (north), New York, Ohio, Vermont (north), West Virginia (east), Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Colorado (east), Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida (north & central), Georgia (east & south), Kentucky (west), Louisiana, North Carolina (east), South Carolina (east), Tennessee, Virginia (east), New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada (west), Utah), Mexico (Baja California (Norte), Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Sinaloa, Sonora, Zacatecas, Michoacán de Ocampo)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

This plant can be weedy or invasive. Some evidence in Nebraska and Illinois, USA.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed for the IUCN Red List. USDA Threatened and Endangered Information: Ohio, US - tansy-mustard: Threatened

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Descurainia antarctica		Annual	0.1	-	LM	SN	DM	2	0
Descurainia incana	Mountain Tansy Mustard	Annual/Biennial	1.0	-	LMH	SN	DM	2	1
Descurainia sophia	Flixweed, Herb sophia	Annual/Biennial	0.9	0-0	LMH	SN	M	2	2	1

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Descurainia pinnata - (Walter.)Britton.