Guizotia abyssinica
| Guizotia abyssinica | |
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| Guizotia flower | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Guizotia |
| Species: | G. abyssinica |
| Binomial name | |
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Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Synonymy
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Guizotia abyssinica is an erect, stout, branched annual herb, grown for its edible oil and seed. Its cultivation originated in the Ethiopian highlands, and has spread to other parts of Ethiopia. Common names include: noog/nug (Ethio-Semitic ኑግ nūg); niger, nyger, nyjer, or Niger seed; ramtil or ramtilla; inga seed; and blackseed, khursani in marathi Gujitil in Assamese, "Huchellu" and "Gurellu" in Kannada
Native to Ethiopia and Malawi, niger seed is also grown in India. Niger seed resembles sunflower seeds in shape, but is smaller in size and black. It bears a fairly thick, adherent seed coat and can be stored for up to a year without deterioration. Niger seed contains proteins, oil and soluble sugars. Niger seeds are used as bird feed world wide. Commercial niger seed is grown in Africa, India and other areas of southeast Asia, and the seed is imported around the world as a popular type of birdseed. Before it is imported, however, niger seed is sterilized by intense heat to prevent germination of any additional seeds that may be part of the mix. Treated niger seed may germinate but would typically be stunted, limiting its spread and offering less of a threat to native plants.
Basic Nutritional Components of Niger Seeds
Requiring moderate rainfall between 1000–1250 mm annually, niger seed needs moist soil to grow properly. Niger should be grown in light black soils or brownish loam with sufficient depth but it can be also be grown on well drained heavy soils or rocky laterite soils. It can grow in semi-shade or without shade. The yield of seeds will average 300–400 kg/hectare under favorable conditions but can produce up to 600 kg/hectare. It gives a dependable yield even under unfavorable climatic conditions.
The seed, technically a fruit called an achene, is often sold as birdseed as it is a favourite of finches, especially the Goldfinch and the . In the birdseed market, Nyjer is often sold or referred to as thistle seed. This is a misnomer resulting from early marketing of the seed as "thistle" to take advantage of the finches' preference for thistle.
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Wikipedia