Crops Honesty (Lunaria biennis)

Unripe pods with developing seeds

Honesty is a well-known ornamental plant that was introduced to Northern parts of Europe several centuries ago from its native areas in Southern Europe and West Asia. It has now become naturalised as a wild flower in some areas and is sometimes prominent during spring months in waste places, particularly by hedgerows. Interest in its commercial cultivation has followed the discovery that the seed oil contains high proportions of erucic and nervonic acids, and may therefore be suitable for the production of high- temperature lubricants and engineering nylons, and also some pharmaceutical preparations. Some trial work has been undertaken, particularly in the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and the USA; small areas are currently being grown for industrial and medical evaluation

This entry forms part of the publication Crops for Industry and Energy in Europe

References:

<

Anon (1996a) Developments in Oilseeds: NIAB Sparsholt Conference. Proceedings of a meeting on 8th February 1996 at Sparsholt College, Winchester, Hampshire. Cambridge: NIAB.

Chisholm, C J (Ed) (1994) Towards a UK Research Strategy for Alternative Crops. Silsoe: Silsoe Research Institute.

Mabey, R (1996) Flora Britannica. London: Sinclair-Stevenson .

Perry, F (1972) Flowers of the World. London: Hamlyn Press.

Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. Champaign: AOCS Press.

P>

Relevant EC funded projects:
AIR-1817