Brassica fruticulosa
Cirillo Twiggy TurnipBiennial or perennial. Taproot relatively slight. Stems erect, to 50 cm high, more or less woody at base, branched, ultimately glabrous. Basal leaves petiolate, to 15 cm long, deeply lobed, with a large terminal lobe and 2 or 3 smaller lateral ones, sparsely bristly, margins irregularly scalloped; upper leaves petiolate or narrowed to base, smaller towards top of plant, the uppermost linear and more or less entire. Inflorescence initially with open flowers overtopping the buds, elongating with age. Sepals almost erect, 4–5 mm long; petals 9–10 mm long, yellow; stamens erect; ovary shortly stalked. Fruit erect, 1–4 cm long (including beak), 1–2 mm wide, on 1–3 mm stalk beyond end of pedicel; valves somewhat constricted between seeds, midrib not prominent; beak 2.5–4 mm long, with 0–2 seeds, pedicel 10–20 mm long; seeds 1–2 mm wide, red-brown. Flowers most of year except mid-summer.
MuM, Wim, GleP, VVP, VRiv, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, DunT, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz. Also naturalised WA, SA, Qld, NSW. Native to southern Europe and northern Africa. A common weed, usually of disturbed sites or wasteland (e.g. roadsides, stream banks, rail lines, vacant blocks etc.).
Entwisle, T.J. (1996). Brassicaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 399–459. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
