About Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl
Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl is an annual plant. It sprouts and grows in the fall, overwinters as a rosette, resumes growth in the spring, and produces flowers by late spring. In Iran, its seeds are called khak-e shir (also known as khakshir). A traditional drink made from khak-e shir is commonly used as a thirst quencher during hot summer days. In traditional Iranian medicine, khakshir is also classified as a medicinal substance, consumed in different combinations with other herbs and substances to produce effects ranging from antidiuretic to aphrodisiac. There is a long-standing tradition of eating this plant in China, and its preparation method is documented in the Jiuhuang Bencao, or Book of Famine Relief Herbals.
