Family Name: Cruciferae
Botanical Name(s): Brassica Alba, Brassica Nigra, Sinapsis Alba
Popular Name(s): Mustard, Black Mustard, White Mustard, Yellow Mustard, kedlock, Yellow Mustard Seed, White Mustard Seed
Parts Used: Seeds
Habitat: It grows throughout Europe, except in the northeastern parts, also in South Siberia, Asia Minor and Northern Africa.
Description: It is an erect annual, 3 feet or more in height, with smaller flowers than the White Mustard. It has spear-shaped, upper leaves, linear, pointed, entire and smooth, and the shortly beaked pods. The seed coat is thin and brittle and covered with minute pits.
Uses: This well known spice has its use in medicine as a stimulating external application. The rubefacient action causes a mild irritation to the skin, stimulating the circulation in that area and relieving muscular and skeletal pain.
