Scientific
name
Brassica carinata1 A. Br.
Family name
Cruciferae (Brassicaceae)
Local name(s)
Abashow gomen (Amragna)
General description
It is
an erect, much branched annual herb of variable size and shape up to 1.2m and
more. The leaves are pinnately
lobed, alternate, dark green and thick. Flowers are yellow and borne in a
long terminal inflorescence. The plant grows and can be harvested all year
round.
Edible part(s),
preparation methods and palatability
Leaves,
stalks and seeds are edible. Mainly women and children are collecting or
harvesting the plant. The leaves
and stalks are boiled in salted water. The species is a very common leafy
vegetable in Ethiopian cuisine and is much liked. No side effects in terms of
palatability have been reported. The seeds are also used to oil the baking plate
of injera stoves. As it grows all year through and is also enjoyed and used by
many people in normal times, the plant cannot be considered a typical famine
food and is also semi-domesticated and domesticated in farm fields.
Nevertheless, when other on-farm crops get short, people will rely on a higher
degree on this species for their daily dietary intake.
Agroecology
Grows in the highlands wild and is
also cultivated by farmers.
Propagation
method(s)
Grows
easily from seeds which are sown in lines ore broadcast. It is normally grown in
home gardens and on irrigated fields near the homestead to minimize bird attack.
Sample location(s)
(1)
Mekane Birhan, Jana Mora Woreda (North Gonder); (2) Arba Zekuar, Belessa Woreda
(North Gonder)
Remarks
Seeds
and leaves of B. carinata are commonly traded on local markets.
Therefore, the species is of economic value in certain areas. Seeds are consumed
as a spice that is used with raw meat. A small tin of seeds has a market value
of 3 Birr in Mekane Birhan, whereas a bundle of leaves (~ 20 pieces) usually
goes for 25 to 50 cents depending on shortage and demand.
1 Parts
of the following description have been taken from Maundu et al., 1999: p. 79
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