White mustard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White mustard |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: |
Sinapis
|
| Species: |
S. alba
|
| Binomial name | |
| Sinapis alba |
|
White mustard is a type of plant that grows for only one year. It's known for its bright yellow flowers and the seeds it produces. These seeds are used in many ways, especially in cooking. You might even find them in your favorite mustard sauce!
Contents
What is White Mustard Used For?
From Flower to Seed
White mustard plants have bright yellow flowers. After the flowers bloom, they create small seed pods. Each of these pods holds about six tiny seeds. Farmers carefully collect these seeds just before the pods are fully ripe.
The Seeds: Small but Mighty
White mustard seeds are small, hard, and round. They are usually about 1 to 1.5 millimeters across. Their color can be anything from light beige or yellow to a pale brown. These tiny seeds pack a lot of flavor!
Eating the Leaves
Did you know you can eat the leaves of the white mustard plant too? In Greece, people often eat the leaves during the winter. They pick them before the plant starts to bloom. Greeks have special names for these leaves, like vrouves or lapsana.
A Festival of Flowers
The time when white mustard plants bloom is a special event. This usually happens in February and March. Some places even celebrate this blooming season with a fun event called the Mustard Festival!
Images for kids
-
White mustard seeds (right) compared with rice seeds (left)
-
A flowering white mustard plant
-
A white mustard plant growing
-
Close-up of white mustard flowers
-
Seed pods of the white mustard plant
-
White mustard used as a cover crop
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Mostaza blanca para niños
