Sesame

Attractive annual ornamental with tubular flowers in white, pink, or lavender. Upright growth habit (60-180cm) works well in cottage gardens. Developing seed pods add architectural interest. Plants have formal, columnar appearance suitable for geometric garden designs.

Sesame oil used medicinally for millennia in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Oil considered warming, used for oil pulling, massage, and as carrier oil. Seeds rich in lignans with antioxidant properties. Traditional uses include treating constipation and supporting bone health due to high calcium content.

Seeds are global culinary staple - white seeds for baking, black seeds in Asian cuisine. Tahini essential for hummus and Middle Eastern dishes. Oil comes in light (cooking) and dark toasted (flavoring) types. Seeds used on breads, bagels, crackers. Halvah showcases sesame as primary ingredient.

Remarkably drought-tolerant once established, valuable for arid agriculture. Flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Birds, particularly finches, feed on mature seeds. Self-pollinating but benefits from insect visitation. Requires 100-150 frost-free days to mature.

Annual herb with square stems bearing opposite ovate leaves at base transitioning to alternate lanceolate leaves higher up. Tubular flowers 2-3cm emerge from leaf axils. Oblong seed capsules 2-3cm long dehisce when ripe with characteristic pop. Seeds small, flat, oval in white, brown, or black.

Not applicable - herbaceous annual without woody tissue. Dried sesame stalks sometimes used as kindling or incorporated into mud bricks in some regions.

The phrase Open Sesame from Ali Baba refers to the pod's tendency to burst open when ripe. Possibly the world's oldest oilseed crop, cultivated for over 5,000 years. Ancient Egyptians used sesame oil for mummification. McDonald's Big Mac contains 300 sesame seeds on average.