Sinapis arvensis
L. CharlockAnnual. Stems erect, 30–80 cm high, herbaceous, simple or branched, usually bristly, sometimes glabrous. Leaves to 20 cm long; basal leaves petiolate, pinnate to pinnately lobed, terminal lobe ovate, elliptic or obovate, irregularly toothed; upper stem leaves smaller, shortly petiolate to sessile above, ovate to lanceolate, sometimes with pair of small lobes at base, irregularly toothed. Sepals inclined, spreading or reflexed, 4–7 mm long; petals 9–12 mm long. Fruit spreading, 2–6 cm long (including beak), 2–4 mm wide, terete; valves usually constricted between seeds; beak 7–16 mm long, with 1 seed or seedless; pedicel 3–24 mm long, thick; seeds 1–2 mm wide, red-brown to black. Flowers Sep.–Feb.
MuM, Wim, VVP, GipP, OtP, GGr, EGU, VAlp. Naturalized all States except NT. Native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa. Weed of cultivated areas, probably more widespread than records indicate.
See taxonomic notes under generic description of Sinapis.
Leaves edible and used like lettuce leaves in parts of Europe. Sometimes a serious crop weed but readily controlled.
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.
