Why did Jesus say the mustard seed was 'least of all seeds' and 'grows larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree?'

The mustard seed is not the smallest seed in the world, and its a shrub, not a tree. Why did Jesus phrase this as He did? As the Bible is innerant, how can this be explained botanically?

Mark 4:30 - 32

ESV - ³⁰ And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? ³¹ It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth.

Clarify • Share • Report • Asked July 03 2015 • Anonymous