Sinapis arvensis
Encyclopedia
Sinapis arvensis is an annual
or winter annual plant of the genus Sinapis
, belonging to the family Brassicaceae
. It is commonly known as Field mustard, Wild mustard or charlock.
The leaves are petiolate with a length of 1–4 cm (0.393700787401575–1.6 ). The basal leaves are oblong, oval, lanceolate, lyrate, pinnatifid
to dentate, 4–18 cm (1.6–7.1 ) long, 2–5 cm (0.78740157480315–2 ) wide. The cauline leaves are much reduced and are short petiolate to sessile but not auriculate-clasping.
The inflorescence is a raceme made up of yellow flowers having four petals. The fruit is a silique
3-5 cm long with a beak 1-2 cm long that is flattened-quadrangular. The valves of the silique are glabrous or rarely bristly, three to five nerved. The seeds are smooth 1-1.5 mm in diameter.
Flowering occurs from May to September. The flowers are pollinated by various bees and flies (entomophily
). Sinapis arvensis is the host plant of the caterpillar
s of some Lepidoptera
, such as the Small White (Pieris rapae). It contains chemicals of the class glucosinolates, including sinalbin
.
, it is widespread in all temperate regions of the planet. It has also become naturalized throughout much of North America. It is a highly invasive species
, a weed, such as in California
.
Annual plant
An annual plant is a plant that usually germinates, flowers, and dies in a year or season. True annuals will only live longer than a year if they are prevented from setting seed...
or winter annual plant of the genus Sinapis
Sinapis
Sinapis is a genus of plants in the family Brassicaceae. One of the species in this genus is White mustard . Black mustard is sometimes placed in this genus as well, but is more often placed in the related genus Brassica...
, belonging to the family Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae, a medium sized and economically important family of flowering plants , are informally known as the mustards, mustard flowers, the crucifers or the cabbage family....
. It is commonly known as Field mustard, Wild mustard or charlock.
Etymology
The genus name Sinapis derives from the Greek word "synaptein" meaning to fasten together. The species name arvensis is a Latin adjective meaning in the fields.Description
Sinapis arvensis reaches on average 20–80 cm (7.9–31.5 ) of height, but under optimal conditions can exceed one meter. The stems are erect, branched and striated, with coarse spreading hairs especially near the base.The leaves are petiolate with a length of 1–4 cm (0.393700787401575–1.6 ). The basal leaves are oblong, oval, lanceolate, lyrate, pinnatifid
Pinnate
Pinnate is a term used to describe feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis in plant or animal structures, and comes from the Latin word pinna meaning "feather", "wing", or "fin". A similar term is pectinate, which refers to a comb-like arrangement of parts...
to dentate, 4–18 cm (1.6–7.1 ) long, 2–5 cm (0.78740157480315–2 ) wide. The cauline leaves are much reduced and are short petiolate to sessile but not auriculate-clasping.
The inflorescence is a raceme made up of yellow flowers having four petals. The fruit is a silique
Silique
A silique or siliqua is a fruit of 2 fused carpels with the length being more than three times the width. The outer walls of the ovary usually separate when ripe, leaving a persistent partition...
3-5 cm long with a beak 1-2 cm long that is flattened-quadrangular. The valves of the silique are glabrous or rarely bristly, three to five nerved. The seeds are smooth 1-1.5 mm in diameter.
Flowering occurs from May to September. The flowers are pollinated by various bees and flies (entomophily
Entomophily
Entomophily is a form of pollination whereby pollen is distributed by insects. Several insect are reported to be responsible for the pollination of many plant species, particularly bees, Lepidoptera , wasps, flies, ants and beetles. Some plant species co-evolved with a particular pollinator, such...
). Sinapis arvensis is the host plant of the caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s of some Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
, such as the Small White (Pieris rapae). It contains chemicals of the class glucosinolates, including sinalbin
Sinalbin
Sinalbin is a glucosinolate found in the seeds of white mustard, Sinapis alba, and in many wild plant species. In contrast to mustard from black mustard seeds which contain sinigrin, mustard from white mustard seeds has only a weakly pungent taste.The less sharp taste is because the mustard oil...
.
Uses
The leaves of Wild Mustard are edible at the juvenile stage of the plant. In animals, except birds, the seeds are toxic and cause gastrointestinal problems, especially if consumed in large quantities. Once the seeds are ground, they produce a kind of mustard.Distribution
A native of the Mediterranean basinMediterranean Basin
In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, which supports characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub vegetation...
, it is widespread in all temperate regions of the planet. It has also become naturalized throughout much of North America. It is a highly invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
, a weed, such as in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Habitat
It grows in the plains and mountains, in pastures, fields, roadsides, waste places and ruins, but mainly in cultivated places. It prefers calcareous soils in sunny places, at an altitude of 0–1400 m (0–4,593.2 ) above sea level.Varieties
- Sinapis arvensis subsp. arvensis
- Sinapis arvensis subsp. allionii (sin. Sinapis allionii Jacq.)
- Sinapis arvensis var. stricta Celak.
- Sinapis arvensis var. pinnatifida Stokes
- Sinapis arvensis var. schkuhriana (Rchb.) Hagenb. 1949
- Sinapis arvensis var. orientalis ( L. ) Koch & Ziz.