The ovule primordium of Nigella damascena is three-zonate. The nucellus of most ovules is crassinucellate. The inner integument is of dermal origin, whereas the outer integument is initiated subdermally. These ovule characteristics correspond with those of the supposedly most original type of the angiospermous ovule. The ovule can be used as a base of comparison with unitegmic ranunculaceous ovules and with ovules showing a structure intermediate between bi- and unitegmy.