Common Name: Wild Mignonette

General Information

Reseda lutea is a branched, erect to ascending, biennial to perennial plant growing from a deep taproot and with flowering stems around 30 - 85cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

Europe - Britain to Portugal, eastwards through west Asia to Kazakhstan, Iran and Arabia; N. Africa; S. Africa

Habitat

Slopes, dry hills, steppes, sandy, clayey, and stony soils, fields, roadsides, fallow fields, weedy places, amongst crops, vegetable gardens, vineyards, especially on limestone and chalky soils[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Biennial/Perennial
Height	0.75 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in any well-drained neutral to slightly alkaline soil in a sunny position or in some shade if the summers are long and hot[]. Plants can sometimes be established on old mortared walls[].
A highly polymorphic species[].
A good plant for bees and butterflies[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw[].

Medicinal

A decoction of the root is taken internally as a treatment for stomach disorders[].

The plant (part not specified) is anthelmintic, diaphoretic and diuretic. An infusion is used in the treatment of heart disease[].

Other Uses

A yellow dye can be extracted from the stems, leaves and flowers[].

An oil obtained from the seed can be used as lacquer and in painting[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in the spring and only just cover the seed. An autumn sowing usually succeeds in areas where winter temperatures do not fall below about -10°c[].