Nigella

Nigella represents a genus of annuals from the family Ranunculaceae ( the buttercup one). The genus comprises more than 12 species concentrated in southern Europe, North Africa and southwest Asia.

The plant is also commonly known as Love in the mist.

Its length varies from 20 to 90 cm.  It bears 5-10 petal blossoms coming in creamy, yellow, pink, light blue and purple colors and cues.  Nigella species produce the fruit representing a capsule made of some united follicles. Every follicle has many black-colored seeds. The thread-like leaves are divided.

The seeds of the plant serve as a spice in India and Middle East. They have the taste similar to oregano. It is a little bit bitter that is why can be used instead of pepper while cooking salad, vegetables or poultry.

Some varieties are widely appraised as gardening ornamental plant. They are notable by seed capsules that make perfect addition to dried floral arrangements.

Nigella

Nigella damascena
By Wildfeuer - under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2

Nigella Seeds


By C94wjpn  - under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.

Nigella hispanica


By Alberto Salguero - under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2