In honor of Easter this year, I’m taking a look at one of
the plants of the parables – mustard. Jesus frequently used stories and parables
to teach his followers. In one parable he likens the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed
– its tiny seed yields a much larger plant (Mathew 30:31-32). To an agrarian population,
familiar with mustard plants growing wild, this would have been easily
understood. From a small start great things can come.
Mustard has naturalized in some parts of the San Francisco Bay Area. In the spring, especially after wet winters, the hills and fields are covered with their lacy yellow flowers.
 |
| Tiny mustard seeds |
According to Old Dominion University, the mustard would have
been Brassica nigra or B. alba, both of which grow in the
Mediterranean. The plant grows from two to eight feet tall. Its flowers are
racemes of tiny, yellow, fragrant flowers, each with four petals. The ground
seeds can be used for cooking, as a flavorful condiment, or as a medicinal plaster for
respiratory ailments; the flowers and greens can be eaten.
 |
| Mustard growing wild in Dublin, California. |
Mustard has naturalized in some parts of the San Francisco Bay Area. In the spring, especially after wet winters, the hills and fields are covered with their lacy yellow flowers.
Learn More:
Old Dominion University (plant list):
http://www.odu.edu/~lmusselm/plant/bible/allbibleplantslist.php
http://www.odu.edu/~lmusselm/plant/bible/allbibleplantslist.php
No comments:
Post a Comment