Crambe

Crambe is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, commonly known as crambe. The genus includes several dozen species of herbaceous plants ranging from annuals to perennials. Members typically have simple, alternate leaves and small four-petaled flowers arranged in loose to dense inflorescences characteristic of the mustard family. Fruit is a siliqua or silique containing numerous seeds.

Several species have practical uses. Crambe maritima, or sea kale, is a coastal perennial with edible blue-green leaves and shoots, consumed boiled or steamed in some European cuisines. The ornamental species Crambe cordifolia is grown for tall, rose-like clusters and large heart-shaped leaves. The seed oil from Crambe abyssinica is high in erucic acid and is cultivated as an industrial oil crop for lubricants, plastics, and other applications.

Natural range and habitat: Crambe species are native to Europe, Eurasia and North Africa, with most species preferring temperate climates. Sea kale tolerates salt spray and poor soils; other species occupy meadows, woodland margins, and rocky habitats. The flowers attract various pollinators; seeds are dispersed by gravity and animals.

Cultivation and notes: Crambe species are grown in gardens and on agricultural plots. Sea kale requires cool winters and fertile, well-drained soil; is often grown as a biennial. Crambe abyssinica and other oil-seed crambe require full sun and good drainage; they are typically annuals or short-lived perennials. As with other Brassicaceae, they may contain glucosinolates and exert allelopathic or nutritive properties.