Guizotia abyssinica
Encyclopedia
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.
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 Greenfinch. 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.
The Wild Bird Feeding Industry (WBFI) has trademarked the name Nyjer so as not to confuse it with the less desirable thistle seed.
In 1982 the USDA ordered that imported niger seed must be heat sterilized to kill the contaminant dodder seed. This treatment, however, was insufficient to kill seeds of other Federal noxious weeds, including Asphodelus fistulosus (onion weed), Digitaria
spp. (includes African couchgrass), Oryza
spp. (red rice), Paspalum scrobiculatum
(kodo millet), Prosopis
spp. (includes mesquites), Solanum viarum
(tropical soda apple), Striga
spp. (witchweed), and Urochloa panicoides
(liver-seed grass). In 2001 a new treatment required that imported niger seed must be heat treated at 120 °C (248 °F) for 15 minutes.
In 2002 the variety EarlyBird Niger was developed and adapted to the United States by Glenn Page. Guizotia abyssinica is not a Federal noxious weed and is now in commercial agricultural production in the United States.
Niger seeds are also used in southern parts of India. In Karnataka
, Andhra Pradesh
and Maharashtra
, Niger seeds (called valisalu/valasulu, uchellu/gurellu and Karale in Telugu
, Kannada and Marathi
respectively) are used to make a dry chutney
which is used as an accompaniment with breads. They are also used as a spice in some curries
.
Ethiopian Highlands
The Ethiopian Highlands are a rugged mass of mountains in Ethiopia, Eritrea , and northern Somalia in the Horn of Africa...
, and has spread to other parts of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Common names include: noog/nug (Ethio-Semitic
Ethiopian Semitic languages
Ethiopian Semitic is a language group, which together with Old South Arabian forms the Western branch of the South Semitic languages. The languages are spoken in both Ethiopia and Eritrea...
ኑግ nūg); niger, nyger, nyjer, or niger seed; ramtil or ramtilla; inga seed; and blackseed.
The seed, technically a fruit called an achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
, is often sold as birdseed as it is a favourite of finches, especially the Goldfinch
Carduelis
The genus Carduelisis a large group of birds in the finch family Fringillidae. It includes the greenfinches, redpolls, goldfinches, linnets, the twite, and the non-African siskins...
and the Greenfinch. 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.
The Wild Bird Feeding Industry (WBFI) has trademarked the name Nyjer so as not to confuse it with the less desirable thistle seed.
In 1982 the USDA ordered that imported niger seed must be heat sterilized to kill the contaminant dodder seed. This treatment, however, was insufficient to kill seeds of other Federal noxious weeds, including Asphodelus fistulosus (onion weed), Digitaria
Digitaria
Digitaria is a genus of about 300 species of grass native to tropical and warm temperate regions. Common names include crabgrass, finger-grass, and fonio. They are slender monocotyledonous annual and perennial lawn, pasture, and forage plants; some are often considered lawn pests...
spp. (includes African couchgrass), Oryza
Oryza
Oryza is a genus of seven to twenty species of grasses in the tribe Oryzeae, within the subfamily Bambusoideae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Northern Australia and Africa...
spp. (red rice), Paspalum scrobiculatum
Paspalum scrobiculatum
Paspalum scrobiculatum is a member of the family Poaceae, commonly called Koda Millet, Kodo Millet or Kodra Millet. It is known as varaku/karuvaraku in Tamil...
(kodo millet), Prosopis
Prosopis
Prosopis is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae. It contains around 45 species of spiny trees and shrubs found in subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas, Africa, Western Asia, and South Asia. They often thrive in arid soil and are resistant to drought, on occasion...
spp. (includes mesquites), Solanum viarum
Solanum viarum
Solanum viarum, the Tropical Soda Apple, is a perennial shrub native to Brazil and Argentina with a prickly stem and prickly leaves. The fruit is golf ball sized with the coloring of a watermelon...
(tropical soda apple), Striga
Striga (plant)
Striga, commonly known as witches weed, is a genus of 28 species of parasitic plants that occur naturally in parts of Africa, Asia, and Australia. Witchweeds are characterized by bright-green stems and leaves and small, brightly colored flowers. Furthermore, they are obligate parasites of roots...
spp. (witchweed), and Urochloa panicoides
Urochloa panicoides
Urochloa panicoides is a fodder grass originating in Southern Africa.-Synonyms:* Panicum borzianum Mattei fide Fl. Trop. E. Africa: 603.* Panicum controversum Steud.* Panicum helopus Trin. in Spreng....
(liver-seed grass). In 2001 a new treatment required that imported niger seed must be heat treated at 120 °C (248 °F) for 15 minutes.
In 2002 the variety EarlyBird Niger was developed and adapted to the United States by Glenn Page. Guizotia abyssinica is not a Federal noxious weed and is now in commercial agricultural production in the United States.
Niger seeds are also used in southern parts of India. In Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
and Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, Niger seeds (called valisalu/valasulu, uchellu/gurellu and Karale in Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
, Kannada and Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
respectively) are used to make a dry chutney
Chutney
Chutney is a a condiment used in South Asian cuisine that usually contains a spice and vegetable mix.Chutneys are wet or dry, having a coarse to fine texture. The Anglo-Indian loan word refers to fresh and pickled preparations indiscriminately, with preserves often sweetened. At least several...
which is used as an accompaniment with breads. They are also used as a spice in some curries
Curry
Curry is a generic description used throughout Western culture to describe a variety of dishes from Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Thai or other Southeast Asian cuisines...
.