Guizotia abyssinica

Guizotia abyssinica
Guizotia abyssinica flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Guizotia
Species:
G. abyssinica
Binomial name
Guizotia abyssinica
Synonyms
Synonymy
  • Anthemis mysorensis herb.madr. ex DC.
  • Bidens ramtilla Wall. ex DC.
  • Buphthalmum ramtilla Buch.-Ham. ex Wall.
  • Guizotia oleifera (DC.) DC.
  • Jaegeria abyssinica (L.f.) Spreng.
  • Polymnia abyssinica L.f. 1782
  • Ramtilla oleifera DC.
  • Tetragonotheca abyssinica Ledeb.
  • Verbesina sativa Roxb. ex Sims

Guizotia abyssinica is an erect, stout, branched annual herb, grown for its edible oil and seed. Its cultivation originated in the Eritrean and Ethiopian highlands, and has spread to other parts of Ethiopia. Common names include noog/nug (Ethio-Semitic and Eritrean ኑግ nūg or ኒህዩግ nihyug); ramtil or ramtilla; niger or nyger seed (all pronounced /ˈnər/ NY-jər); inga seed; and blackseed. Noug has been described as semi-domesticated, self-incompatible crop with yellow flowering heads and seeds. Recent studies have revealed the regional genetic diversity of some noug populations grown in Ethiopia based on RAPD and AFLP markers.