Here is an interesting reference to Camelina that is 200 years old.

The Universal Dictionary of the Arts, Sciences, Literature of the Encyclopeadia Perthensis, published in Edinburgh in 1816, was ‘Intended to Supersede the Other Books of Reference’ and is Illustrated with 370 Plates and Maps.

Under the Letter M we find the term Myagrum or Gold of Pleasure …

“There are 5 species of plants but the only remarkable one is Myagrum sativum [Camelina sativa] which grows naturally in corn fields in the south of France and Italy and in some parts of Britain. It is an annual plant, with an upright stalk a foot and a half high sending out 2 or 4 side branches, which grow erect; the flowers grow in loose spikes at the end of the branches, standing upon short footstalks an inch long; they are composed of 4 small yellowish petals, in the form of a cross; these are succeeded by oval capsules, which are bordered and crowned at the top in the style of the flower, having 2 cells filled with red seeds. -This is cultivated in Germany for the sake of the expressed oil of the seeds, which the inhabitants use for medicinal, culinary and economical purposes. The seeds are a favourite food with geese, horses, goats, sheep, and cows, eat the plant.”

Here is the link: Encyclopaedia Perthensis

Images from Plant Illustrations .Org

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