Status
Conservation status
Not protected
Native status
Archaeophyte
Species Biology
Habitat
Waste places
Life cycle
Annual
Ex-situ conservation
Not known
Use
Food crop
Vegetative nature
Herbaceous
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
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Further information
It has been traditionally cultivated as an oilseed crop to produce vegetable oil and animal feed. There is ample archaeological evidence to show it has been grown in Europe for at least 3,000 years. The crop is now being researched due to its exceptionally high levels (up to 45%) of omega-3 fatty acids, which is uncommon in vegetable sources.