Nigella segetalis

Nigella segetalis M.Bieb.

Nigella segetalis is a flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the Black Sea region and northwestern Iran. It is an annual species typically found in temperate zones. A morphological analysis of seed coats identifies it as a sister taxon to Nigella gallica, which is native to southwestern Europe, with both species distinct from other members of the genus Nigella.

Description

Nigella segetalis, described by M.Bieb. in 1808, is part of the genus Nigella within the family Ranunculaceae. It is distributed across regions including Ukraine, Iran, the Krym, South European Russia, the Transcaucasus, and Turkey. This annual plant is characterized by its occurrence in temperate areas. Taxonomic studies based on seed coat morphology suggest a close relationship between N. segetalis and N. gallica, while distinguishing both from other species in the genus.