Plant species used for the Seeds of Change: A Floating Ballast Seed Garden 2013 display:
Seed / Plant
Nigella damascena
Common Name: Nigella, Love in a mist, Devil in the Bush
Family: Ranunculaceae
Origin: Southern Europe, North Africa and Southwest Asia.
Habitat: Neglected stony damp patches of land.
Description: An upright, bushy annual with finely dissected leaves and solitary flowers with 5 blue or white,
petal-like sepals and feathery bracts, followed by ornamental seed pods. The flowers are hermaphrodite
(have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees. The plant’s seed and oil can be eaten as a
condiment which has a nutmeg flavour.
Other: The related Nigella sativa is the source of the spice variously known as black cumin.
Setaria viridis
Common Name: Green Bristle Grass
Family: Poaceae or Gramineae
Origin: Europe to E. Asia. It is a casual in Britain.
Habitat: Mountain slopes, roadsides and grassy waste lands.
Description: An annual which is in flower from August to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both
male and female organs) and are pollinated by Wind. The plant has some medicinal properties when crushed
and mixed with water and used as an external application to treat bruises.
Other: The plant is edible and is used in the same ways as rice or millet.
Ecballium elaterium
Common Name: The Squirting Cucumber
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Origin: Mediterranean and Macaronesia but naturalized in Britain particularly along the south coast.
Habitat: Hot dry places on waste ground and roadsides.
Description: A trailing to slightly bushy perennial that has wet, messy, exploding seed pods. Leaves are
palmately lobed and bristly, and both male and female flowers appear on one plant. The flowers are funnelshaped, and a deep yellow.
Other: Used as a medicinal plant for over 2,000 years – though the plant has a violent effect upon the body –
it has little use in modern herbalism.
Amaranthus caudatus
Common Name: Love lies Bleeding
Family: Amaranthaceae
Origin: Africa, India and South America (probably originated from S America (Andes)).
Habitat: Old fields and waste land. Some are invasive pests.
Description: An annual which is in flower from July to September. The flowers are monoecious (individual
flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are pollinated by
wind. The plant has some medicinal properties.
Other: The plant seeds and leaves are edible, and yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the whole
plant.
Calendula officinalis
Common Name: Marigold
Family: Asteraceae or Compositae
Origin: Native to S. Europe, but exact origin is unknown.
Habitat: Waste land, cultivated and arable land and along roadsides.
Description: An annual which is in flower from June to November. The flowers are monoecious (individual
flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are pollinated by
Bees. It is noted for attracting wildlife. The plant is well known for its herbal medicines.
Other: A yellow dye is obtained from the boiled flowers as well as an essential oil from the plant.
Avena sativa
Common Name: Oat
Family: Poaceae or Gramineae.
Origin: N. Europe. A non-persistent relic of cultivation in Britain.
Habitat: Dry wasteland, cultivated ground and meadows.
Description: An annual plant, it is in flower from June to July. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both
male and female organs) and are pollinated by Wind. The plant is self-fertile. The plant has medicinal uses
however it is largely used for edible purposes.
Other: The plant is used as a staple food crop and is best known as the breakfast cereal porridge.
Verbascum nigrum
Common Name: Dark Mullein
Family: Verbascum
Origin: Europe and the Mediterranean.
Habitat: Waysides and open spaces, usually on dry calcareous soils
Description: A biennial perennial it is in flower from June to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have
both male and female organs) and are pollinated by flies. The plant is self-fertile. The plant has tall stalks
with dark yellow ragged-looking flowers.
Other: The flowers and leaves have medical properties (internal and external use). The plant is harvested
when in flower and dried quickly in order to prevent it loosing its medicinal qualities.
Eruca vesicaria sativa
Common Name: Rocket or arugula
Family: Brassicaceae or Cruciferae.
Origin: Europe (Mediterranean), a frequent casual in Britain.
Habitat: Waste ground, fields, olive groves, stony hills.
Description: An annual plant that is in flower from May to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both
male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. Rocket was at one time used medicinally, though it is
now used only as a salad herb.
Other: Rocket is edible raw or cooked, with a distinct strongly spicy flavour. The seeds yield oil which is
edible if stored for 6 months.
Ficus carica
Common Name: Fig
Family: Moraceae
Origin: West Asia.
Habitat: Amongst rocks, in woods and scrub land
Description: A deciduous tree, it is in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from August to
September. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be
found on the same plant). The plant is self-fertile. The plants fruit is edible raw or cooked and is
often dried for later use.
Other: The latex from the stems is used as medicinal aid. It also has an analgesic effect against insect stings
and bites.
Linum usitatissimum
Common name: Flax
Origin: Eurasia, cultivated by man since 8000BC
Uses: Flax fibres have been used to make linen and cloth since Neolithic times. Sails for ships were often
made from Flax and coated in Linseed oil to make them waterproof. The plant fibres were used to make
rope which again was dipped in Linseed oil to make it waterproof. Flax is also grown for its use as an edible
oil, as a nutritional supplement , and as an ingredient in many wood finishing products such a s Linoleum or
Lino flooring!
Papaver rhoeas
Common name: Field Poppy
Origin: Europe
Uses: As one of the most ancient plants, Poppies have been used by humans since the Neolithic period.
According to archeological studies, remains of Poppies have been found in prehistoric settlements in central
Europe, Switzerland, Southern Germany and Southern England which date to at least 4000BC.
Poppies often grow wild in corn fields and are popular with gardeners. Their seeds can remain dormant in
the earth for many years. They are a symbol of fallen soldiers.