Seed / plant help required please

[Robbi]

3 years ago in Morocco we bought some herbal smelly seeds that smell very strongly of menthol for decongestant use, just for fun I planted some in my mini propergater and blow me down they've started to grow !!
Despite hours of searching I can't find out what they are...can anyone help ?

 

[Mesquite]

Is it wild mint, Mentha arvensis?

Menthol is extracted from it.

​

 

[Robbi]

Many thanks, I'll have a look....

The pot full of seeds is really powerful, instant nose decongested with one sniff.!

 

[Robbi]

The seeds look very different to the ones I have.

 

[slowworm]

I'm a bit busy at the moment but a quick search suggests black cumin, (Nigella sativa), may be what you have, possibly mixed with menthol.

 

[Toddy]

Those look like nigella seeds, but those aren't menthol smelling.

Curious I hope you suss it out and let us know

 

[Robbi]

Those look like nigella seeds, but those aren't menthol smelling.

Curious I hope you suss it out and let us know

It's driving me bonkers at the moment

 

[Toddy]

It curiosity'd me enough to go looking......

Faculty of Arts | Nigella Seeds

Dr Caroline Petit from the Department of Classics and Ancient History researches ancient medical culture and texts, including the work of Galenus (AD 129c. 200/c. 216). Better known as Galen, the physician, writer and philosopher became the most famous doctor in the Roman Empire and his theories...

warwick.ac.uk

Seems that they might well be nigella seeds, but I grow and plant nigella, it's kind of a random weed in my garden with poppies and heartsease, and I have never noticed any menthol scent. It's coming up again in one of the beds outside the back door, I'm now awaiting flowers and seeds with even more curiosity

M

 

[Toddy]

Hah! bit more looking, and our 'nigella', the love-in-a-mist, is Nigella damascena, while your Moroccan one seems to be Nigella sativa.

You might well be onto a good thing there

M

 

[Robbi]

Those look like nigella seeds, but those aren't menthol smelling.

Curious I hope you suss it out and let us know

Well, they certainly look like Nigella seeds but the smell is vastly different, as suggested menthol may have been mixed but why would anyone do that.??

Moroccan market, rip off the tourist is a very strong possibility I guess

 

[Robbi]

Cooooo....

What Is Nigella Sativa? Forms, Nutrients, and Health Effects

Nigella sativa is a medicinal herb used in cooking and traditional medicine. This article explores its forms, benefits, and potential downsides.

www.healthline.com

 

[Toddy]

I have just received a present Thank you, @Robbi

You are so right about the smell just from the seeds. It never even dawned on me that the two nigellas could be so different.

I'm going to try growing these and hopefully manage to keep them to crop.
Interesting to play around with

M

 

[slowworm]

What do they smell like? I noted Nigella sativa may smell like nutmeg, does the seed smell anything like that?

 

[Toddy]

It smells oniony. I can really see why folks chose to eat this stuff, use it as a spice/seasoning.

I can also see why it's used to clear sinus' though

 

[Toddy]

Interesting article on the subject

Faculty of Arts | Nigella Seeds

Dr Caroline Petit from the Department of Classics and Ancient History researches ancient medical culture and texts, including the work of Galenus (AD 129c. 200/c. 216). Better known as Galen, the physician, writer and philosopher became the most famous doctor in the Roman Empire and his theories...

warwick.ac.uk

 

[Robbi]

Fascinating, thanks for sharing