White mustard

White mustard
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Sinapis
Species:
S. alba
Binomial name
Sinapis alba
Synonyms
  • Brassica alba (L.) Rabenh.
  • Brassica hirta Moench
White mustard seeds (right) compared with rice seeds (left)

White mustard (Sinapis alba) is an annual plant of the family Brassicaceae. It is sometimes also referred to as Brassica alba or B. hirta. Grown for its seeds, it is used to make the condiment mustard, as a fodder crop, or as a green manure. It is now widespread worldwide, although it probably originated in the Mediterranean region.