Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is native to the Old Word tropics and is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. Sesame oil is not mentioned in the Bible, but appears to have been important in non-Hebrew cultures 2,000 to 4,000 years ago. It was a highly prized oil crop of Babylon and Assyria at least 4,000 years ago. Today, India and China are the world's largest producers of sesame, followed by Burma, Sudan, Mexico, Nigeria, Venezuela, Turkey, Uganda and Ethiopia. World production in 1985 was 2.53 million tons on 16.3 million acres. Sesame seeds are approximately 50% oil and 25% protein. They are used in baking, candy making, and other food industries. The oil contains about 47% oleic and 39% linoleic acid. Sesame oil and foods fried in sesame oil have a long shelf life because the oil contains an antioxidant called sesamol. Sesame oil is also used in the manufacture of soaps, paints, perfumes, pharmaceuticals and insecticides.

The expression "open sesame" made famous in the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, one of the tales from the Arabian Nights, is probably based on the sesame seed capsule. Some authorities have suggested that this expression was adopted by the author of the stories because the capsules burst open at maturity with the slightest touch. Other interpretations suggest that it comes from the popping sound of the mature pod as it opens, like the sudden pop of a lock springing open. Because of the shattering characteristic, sesame has been grown primarily on small plots that are harvested by hand. The discovery of an indehiscent (nonshattering) mutant by Langham in 1943 resulted in the development of a high yielding, shatter-resistant variety that retained its seeds during harvesting. Langham also discovered that indehiscent trait in sesame was controlled by one pair of recessive alleles. Apparently the title of "Sesame Street" is derived from the phrase "open sesame," presumably to inject curiosity and excitement into the title of this popular TV program for children.

According to Oplinger et al. (1990), the flowers of sesame are typically self pollinated, although they may be cross pollinated by insects. No insect pollinators were observed on the plants grown at Wayne's Word. The growth of sesame is indeterminant: the plant continues to produce leaves, flowers and seed capsules throughout the warm summer months and into the fall.

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