White mustard (Sinapis alba, Sp. pl. 2:668. 1753)

Family: Brassicaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. pl. 2:668. 1753

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Sinapis

Vegetable: True

Observations: Europe to China

Description

White mustard, scientifically known as Sinapis alba, is a notable plant that has garnered attention for its vibrant yellow seeds and significant agricultural and culinary uses. This annual herb is part of the Brassicaceae family, a group that includes many other well-known plants such as cabbage, broccoli, and kale.

White mustard originates from a wide geographical range stretching from Europe all the way to China. Its adaptability to various climates has allowed it to thrive in different environmental conditions. Typically, white mustard is grown in temperate regions where it is valued both for its seeds and leafy greens.

The plant itself features bright green, lobed leaves and clusters of small yellow flowers that bloom in the summer. These flowers eventually give way to seed pods that contain several round, yellowish seeds. The seeds are harvested and used primarily in the production of mustard condiments. They contribute to the sharp, pungent flavor that mustard is known for, making them a key ingredient in numerous culinary traditions worldwide.

In addition to its culinary applications, white mustard has also been investigated for its potential health benefits. The seeds contain compounds like glucosinolates and mucilage, which are believed to have anti-inflammatory and digestive properties. This has led to the inclusion of white mustard in various traditional medicinal practices.

Agronomically, white mustard plays a vital role as a cover crop. When planted between the main crops, it helps prevent soil erosion, suppress weed growth, and improve soil fertility. This makes it a valuable addition to sustainable farming practices, helping to maintain healthy agricultural ecosystems.

The historical reference to white mustard in Carl Linnaeus’s seminal work “Species Plantarum” in 1753 underscores its long-standing importance. Linnaeus, who is often regarded as the father of modern taxonomy, classified and named the plant, thereby cementing its place in botanical records.

In summary, Sinapis alba, or white mustard, is a versatile and economically important plant with a rich history and broad geographical distribution. Its utility in the kitchen, potential health benefits, and role in sustainable agriculture highlight its remarkable contributions to both human culture and agricultural practices.

Common Names

Lit: baltoji garsty
Deu: echter weißer senf, hederich, weisser senf, weißer senf, zerschlitzter weißer senf
Pol: gorczyca jasna
Dan: gul sennep, hjortetaktræ, kongekommen, sommer-hvidblomme
Swe: miniatyrpåsklilja, rönnsumak, slöjsilja, grön snödroppe, keltasinappi, sommarsnöklocka, vitsenap
Eng: white mustard, yellow mustard
Lav: balt
Ces: hoř
Nob: hvitsennep
Fin: keltasinappi
Nno: kvitsennep
Por: mostarda, mostarda-branca
Est: valge sinep
Nld: witte mosterd
Fra: moutarde blanche, moutarde rude
Sme: vilgessennet
Cym: cedu gwyn, cedw gwyn, mwstard gwyn
En: White mustard, Yellow mustard, Salade mustard, White mustard seed, Bai jie, Charlock, Rough mustard, White charlock
Ar: خردل أبيض, Khardal abyad, Khardal asfur, خردل اصفر, خَرْدَل أَبْيَض, كبر(كَبَر)، خردل (خَردل)
Ca: Mostassa
Cs: Hoř
Da: Gul sennep, Hjortetaktræ, Kongekommen, Sommer-hvidblomme
Nl: Witte mosterd, Gele Mosterd
Et: Valge sinep
Fi: Keltasinappi
Fr: Moutarde blanche, Moutarde rude, Moutarde, Roquette cultivée, Moutarde anglaise, Moutarde cultivée, Petit bouquet jaune, Senévé
De: Weißer Senf, Echter Weißer Senf, Hederich, Weisser Senf, Zerschlitzter Weißer Senf, Futter Senf, Weiβe Senf
He: חרדל לבן
It: Senape bianca, Senape biancha
Lv: Balt
Lt: Baltoji garsty
Se: Vilgessennet
Nb: Hvitsennep
Nn: Kvitsennep
Pl: Gorczyca jasna
Pt: Mostarda, Mostarda-branca, Mostarda branca
Sk: Horčica biela
Es: Mostaza blanca, Mostaza silvestre
Sv: Miniatyrpåsklilja, Rönnsumak, Slöjsilja, Grön snödroppe, Keltasinappi, Sommarsnöklocka, Vitsenap
Cy: Cedu Gwyn, Cedw Gwyn, Mwstard Gwyn

Synonyms

• Eruca alba ((L.) Noulet)
• Rhamphospermum album ((L.) Andrz. ex Rchb.)
• Leucosinapis alba ((L.) Spach)
• Raphanus albus ((L.) Crantz)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Altay (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• France (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• India (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Laos (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Alberta (introduced)
• Amur (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Chita (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• District of Columbia (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Finland (introduced)
• Føroyar (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Greenland (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Iceland (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Ireland (introduced)
• Irkutsk (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Manitoba (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Montana (introduced)
• Nebraska (introduced)
• New Brunswick (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• North Dakota (introduced)
• North European Russi (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Prince Edward I. (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Saskatchewan (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• South Dakota (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Yakutskiya (introduced)
• Yukon (introduced)

Additional Images

Fruit

Taken Mar 11, 2022 by Giovanni Vannacci (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 17, 2022 by Gianni Del Bufalo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 27, 2021 by Gilles Istin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 17, 2022 by Gianni Del Bufalo (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 13, 2020 by Man_Roman (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Nov 16, 2021 by Gareldo Garretti (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 5, 2021 by Eva Cleven (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 16, 2021 by claude lerat -gentet Mme (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 16, 2021 by Gareldo Garretti (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2020 by Han Hor (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Nov 16, 2021 by claude lerat -gentet Mme (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 6, 2021 by Samuel Cabaj (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 4, 2022 by Giulia (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2020 by Han Hor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 24, 2018 by Matesanz Ángel (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Nov 27, 2021 by Gilles Istin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 25, 2022 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 19, 2021 by Jani Zadrgal (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 21, 2021 by Jani Zadrgal (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 21, 2022 by anna_485 (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Feb 18, 2022 by Gianni Del Bufalo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 28, 2019 by Tejkumar Besra Tejkumar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 20, 2022 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2020 by Aurélie Billon (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 7, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Mar 2, 2019 by Peter Demuro (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 24, 2020 by Gil Eduardo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 2, 2021 by Elisa Castel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 30, 2021 by Meyer Gerhard (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 28, 2021 by santi (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3047621)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:288952-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Sinapis alba L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Soil nutriments: 8