Sesame is an
annual plant which grows to the height of between 0.5 m and over 2m depending
on the variety.
Roots: It has a large
taproot and a dense surface mat of feeding roots.
Leaves: The lower
leaves are opposite, broad and palmately lobed whilst the upper leaves are
alternately arranged, narrow and Lancelot.
Stem:
Is
branched or unbranded depend on variety. Most locally grown cultivars are leafy
and highly branched with strong and well developed tap rot.
Plant
colour: Depending,
the color of the plant may be dark green, light or purple.
Flowers: Are produced in
the leaf axils, each axil with 1-3 flowers depending on the variety. Locally
grown cultivars produce one flower per axil. Although simsim is predominately
self-pollinated, there is up to 5% cross-pollination.
Fruits: The fruits are
erect capsules about 2.5-4.0 cm long and are normally four-loculed but may also be six or eight loculed
depending on the variety. There are dehiscent and indehiscent varieties. In
dehiscent varieties, the capsules split from the top down wards for about two
thirds of their lengths when mature and shed seed.
Seeds: The seeds are
small, one thousand seeds weighing 2.0-4.0 g, and seed color varies from white,
black, grey, brown to chocolate.
Depending
on the variety, the period from sowing to maturity is between 75 and 150 days
Most of the locally grown cultivars in Tanzania mature in 120-150 days.
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