Brassica carinata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brassica carinata |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Brassica
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| Species: |
carinata
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| Synonyms | |
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Brassica timoriana F.Muell. |
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Brassica carinata is a special kind of flowering plant that belongs to the Brassicaceae family. This family also includes common vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, and kale. You might hear Brassica carinata called Ethiopian mustard or Ethiopian rape.
Scientists believe this plant is a hybrid. This means it was formed naturally by combining parts of two other plants: Brassica nigra (also known as black mustard) and Brassica oleracea (which is wild cabbage). The flowers of Ethiopian mustard are very popular with honey bees, who visit them to collect both pollen and nectar.
Contents
Ethiopian Mustard: A Useful Plant
Leaves for Eating
The leaves of the Brassica carinata plant have a mild taste. People often eat them as a leaf vegetable, similar to spinach or collard greens. In Ethiopia, it's known as habesha gomen (ሐበሻ ጎመን in Amharic) or Raafuu (in Oromo: Oromo).
There's a specific type called Texsel that grows especially well in places with moderate climates. While growing Ethiopian mustard for its leaves used to be mostly for small farms, it's now becoming more popular in both rural and city areas. Some farms are even growing it on a larger scale to sell.
Seeds for Oil and Fuel
In Ethiopia, Brassica carinata is grown to produce oil from its seeds. However, this oil naturally contains high levels of certain substances called glucosinolates and erucic acid, which are not always wanted in food oils. Because of this, another plant called Brassica napus (rapeseed) is often preferred for making cooking oil.
But the oil from Brassica carinata has found a very exciting use: it can be turned into aviation biofuel for jet engines! On October 29, 2012, something amazing happened. A jet aircraft flew completely on fuel made from Brassica carinata oil. This was the first time a jet had flown using only biofuel. After the oil is taken from the seeds, what's left over is a protein-rich meal. This meal is then used as animal fodder, which means it's fed to farm animals.
Industrial Uses
The oil from Brassica carinata is special because it has a high amount of erucic acid, usually between 40% and 45%. This makes it very useful for things other than food. It's great for making biofuel, as we mentioned, but also for many industrial products. These include plastics, lubricants (like oil for machines), paints, materials for tanning leather, soaps, and even cosmetics.
See also
In Spanish: Brassica carinata para niños
