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Summary
S. orientale L. (1753) and S. indicum L. have equal priority. DC. (Pl. Rar. Jard. Geneve 16-19. 1825) accepted S. orientale and cited S. indicum as a synonym. The conservation of S. indicum, however, has precedence over S. orientale.
Physical Characteristics
Sesamum indicum is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. It is in flower in July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
S. orientale.
Plant Habitats
Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves Oil Oil Seed
Edible Uses: Condiment Oil Oil
Seed - cooked[1, 2, 4, 34, 46]. Usually roasted or stewed, it can also be ground into a powder and used as a flour, added to breads, vegetables etc, used to make sweetmeats, or crushed and used as a butter or as 'tahini'[14, 21, 183, 238]. It can also be fermented into 'tempeh', ground into a powder and mixed with a sweetener to make 'halva', or made into a paste and used as the spread 'tahini'[183, 238]. The seeds can also be sprouted and used in salads[183]. The seed contains about 21.5% protein, 60.8% fat, 8.9% carbohydrate, 3.4% ash[179]. It is a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids, calcium and vitamins A, B and E[201, 238]. The calcium is absorbed well by the body, making sesame an excellent dietary source[238]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[2, 34, 46, 57]. It is used for cooking or in margarines etc[14, 183]. The oil is very stable and will keep for years without turning rancid[61, 117, 201]. Leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb or added to soups[105, 117, 183].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiasthmatic Antidiarrhoeal Antihaemorrhoidal Antitussive Astringent Cholera Diuretic Dysentery
Emollient Galactogogue Kidney Laxative Lenitive Nutritive Skin
Tonic
The leaves and seed are astringent[174, 201, 257]. The leaves are rich in a gummy matter and when mixed with water they form a rich bland mucilage that is used in the treatment of infant cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, catarrh and bladder troubles[4, 238]. The seed is diuretic, emollient, galactogogue, lenitive and tonic[218], and acts as a tonic for the liver and kidneys[238]. It is taken internally in the treatment of premature hair loss and greying, convalescence, chronic dry constipation, dental caries, osteoporosis, stiff joints, dry cough etc[238]. It has a marked ability to increase milk production in nursing mothers[254]. Externally it is used to treat haemorrhoids and ulcers[238, 240]. The seed is very high in calories and so should be used with caution by people who are overweight[238]. The oil is laxative and also promotes menstruation[4]. It is used to treat dry constipation in the elderly[238]. Mixed with lime water, the oil is used externally to treat burns, boils and ulcers[238]. A decoction of the root is used in various traditions to treat asthma and coughs[254].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Hair Insecticide Lighting Oil Oil Soap making Weather protection
The seed contains up to 55% of a semi-drying oil[132]. Apart from being edible, it is also used in soap making, lighting, as a lubricant and a source of pharmaceutical drugs etc[21, 46, 61, 238]. When added to the insecticide pyrethrum it acts as a synergist, a 10% content of oil doubling the potency of the pyrethrum[57, 174]. The oil can also be used in barrier creams to protect the skin from harmful UV light radiation[201].
Special Uses
Food Forest
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Sesame can be grown from the warm temperate zone to the tropics, so long as there is a growing season of at least 5 months. In the tropics, it can be grown at elevations up to 1,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range of 20 - 30°c, but can tolerate 10 - 40°c[418
]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 500 - 1,000mm, but tolerates 300 - 1,500mm[418
]. High relative humidity or heavy rains may increase the incidence of fungal diseases[418
].
Requires a well-drained porous soil and a warm sunny sheltered position[1
, 238
]. Succeeds in most well-drained soils of moderate fertility[18
]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7.5, tolerating 4.5 - 8[418
]. A sheltered position is preferred, sesame is susceptible to wind damage after the main stem has elongated[418
].
Depending upon variety, a crop of sesame can be produced within 40 - 180 days from sowing the seed[418
].
The average yield of sesame seed in the world is about 350 kilos per hectare, but yields can be up to 3 tonnes[418
].
There are many named varieties[183
].
Sesame grows well with sweet corn but it grows badly with sorghum[201
]. The British climate is probably too cool in the summer to successfully grow this crop, though some people have reported success[206]. Early sowing in the greenhouse and some protection when first planting it out will help. Sesame grows well with sweet corn but it grows badly with sorghum[201].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
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Plant Propagation
Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Give them the protection of a cloche until they are growing away well[K]. In warm temperate zones, where frosts are very rare and light, or non-existent, the seed can be sown in situ in the spring or the autumn[238].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Beniseed, Benne, Bijan, Bukenyimu, Bununya, Busosyi, Bwengo, Chamkkae, Chih mah, Chitowe, Ellu, Geching, Gingelly, Gingli, Ginjili, Goma, Hnan si, Hu ma, Ingo, Karuthellu, Kattu yellu, Keh, Khasa, Lamti, Lenga, Lidonya, Linga, Matongwe, Mchesi, Me, Mkwiyu, Muki goma, Namuhangwa, Nga dee la, Ngaa, Nuvvulu, Rasi, Sesam, Sesamo, Sesamum, Sibing, Sim-sim, Sivar, Susam, Tal, Thala, Til, Tila, Tili, Usambia, Wijen, Zhi ma, accheellu, ajonjolí, ajonjolí, aceite, ajonjolí, aceite refinado, bahumaniri, ballanuvvulu, baniseed, bariktel, beme, bene, benein, beni, beniseed, benne, benneseed, benniseed, benue oil seed, bhadutil, bhutaghn, black sesame, black sesame seeds, carbonized fineleaf schizonepeta spike, chamkkae, chikhanu, chiteluu, chitrallum, ellu, fineleaf schizonepeta spike, gergelim, gimgelim, gingelly, gingelly sesame, gingelly-oil seeds, gingli, goma, grangasa, hamo, hei zhi ma, heizhima, holi basil, homadhanya, hu ma, ikanyum, jatila, jingjiesui, jingjiesuitan, kalatil, kali til, karellu, kattil, khasa, khaslatil, krishanatil, krishnatel, kuncî, kunjad, kunjad siyah, manchi tulasi, mayou, mfuta, min, mithatel,til, mithytel, molekelele, nalla tulasi, navvullu, nimso, nuvvu, nuvvulu, nyim, oleum sesami, oriental sesame, papaghana, poeuloel, rasi, refined sesame oil, ridi, sacred basil, salalmac, schizonepetae spica, semen sesami nigrum, sesam, sesame, sesame oil, sesame oil, refined, sesame seeds|thala, sesami oleum, sesami oleum raffinatum, sesami semen, sesami semen nigrum, sesamier, sesamo, sesamum, sim-sim, simmasim, simsim, simsim-ui-aswad, sisino, spica schizonepetae, spica schizonepetae carbonisata, spri-nag, sri tulasi, surasa, sésame, sésamo, tal tel til, tall, teel, thiruthazhai, thulasi, ti-la-dkar, til, tila, tila (seed), tilagachh, tili, tsinuni, tulasi, tulsi, ufuha, ufunha, ufuta, uvuta, wangila, yanmoti, yelluchedi, zar-ma, zhi ma, zilechatil, óleo de gergelim.
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Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Afghanistan, Africa, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burma, Cambodia, Central Africa, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Europe, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Greece, Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Korea, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Uganda, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
L.
Botanical References
5093266
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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