black-bread-weed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• black-bread-weed
• wild fennel
• wild fennel-flower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Nigella arvensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae within the order Ranunculales. Ultimately, it is a member of the family Ranunculaceae and falls under the genus Nigella.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Nigella arvensis, exhibits a specific distribution across various regions of Middle Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Austria, contributing to the local flora. The species is also documented in Belgium, extending its presence towards the western parts of the continent. Moving eastward, its range encompasses the territories of Czechia and Slovakia. Finally, this medicinal plant is well-established in both Germany and Hungary.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Nigella arvensis is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse and often disturbed environments. It thrives across a wide range of landscapes, establishing itself frequently within crop fields and inhabited places where soil disturbance is common. Its ecological niche extends to more rugged and varied terrains, including mountainous regions, open steppe environments, and stony places. This ability to colonize both agricultural settings and natural, rocky habitats suggests a high tolerance for varying soil compositions and competitive pressures, allowing it to persist in both anthropogenic and wild ecosystems.

Habitat :

crop fields, inhabited places, mountains, steppe, stony places

Life history

The life history of Nigella arvensis is characterized by its status as an annual plant, completing its entire reproductive cycle within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives unfavorable conditions through highly resilient seeds rather than maintaining any permanent vegetative structures above or below the ground. This plant is deciduous, shedding its foliage as it concludes its seasonal development. Its biological strategy focuses on rapid growth and efficient seed production to ensure the continuation of the species before the onset of environmental stress.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Nigella arvensis is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, appearing as both a general herb and a forb. This self-supporting plant is terrestrial in nature and functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, it is a relatively small species, with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.45 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.23 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.45 m

Plant height mean:

0.23 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Nigella arvensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its natural habitat. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying entirely on autotrophic production through soil nutrient uptake and photosynthesis rather than capturing prey. Morphologically, its leaves possess a mean surface area of approximately 1.8854 cm², contributing to its overall canopy structure. Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 266.3 cm²/g, a value that reflects its leaf density and the investment of biomass per unit of photosynthetic surface area.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

1.8854 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

266.3 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Nigella arvensis is driven by sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is entirely absent in this species. The flowering period typically begins in July and extends through September. During this time, the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects, with bees serving as a key pollinator. Notably, self-fertilization is absent, necessitating these insect interactions for successful fertilization. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. This fruit is dehiscent, meaning it opens at maturity to release its seeds. The seeds produced are very small and consistent in size, with a mean, minimum, and maximum seed mass of 0.002 g. Once released, the seeds are dispersed via an anemochorous syndrome, relying on wind for movement to new locations.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass mean:

0.002 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Nigella arvensis has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Carotenoid, Chlorophylls, H2O2, proline.

Carotenoid

1. The Science of the total environment

Chlorophylls

1. The Science of the total environment

H2O2

1. The Science of the total environment

proline

1. The Science of the total environment

Preparations

Nigella arvensis has 5 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Essential oils, chloroform, methanol, various extracts, water.

Essential oils

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Chloroform

1. Turkish journal of medical sciences

Methanol

1. Turkish journal of medical sciences

Various extracts

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Water

1. Turkish journal of medical sciences