[ 1743 ]
SINAPIS arvensis.
Wild Mustard, or Charlock.
( o f
/ ■
' TETRA D YNAMIA Siliquosa.
Gen. Char. Cal. widely spreading. Claws of the
petals straight. Nectariferous glands 4. Pod more
or less cylindrical, the partition longer than the
valves.
Spec. Char. Pods with many angles, rugged, longer
than their own two-edged beak. Leaves ovate,
somewhat lyrate.
Syn. Sinapis arvensis. Linn. Sp. PL 933. Sm. FI.
Brit. 7 2 1 . Huds. 298. With. 594. Hull. 148.
Relh. 262. Sibth. 208. Abbot. 146. Curt. Lord,
fa sc. 5 . t. 47.
Rapistrum arvorum. Raii Syn. 295.
O n e of the most troublesome of weeds among corn on rather
moist land. It is also frequent every where about waste
ground and hedges, especially on new banks, the seed being
one of those which will lie deep in the ground uninjured for a
long course of years, and vegetate whenever it comes within
reach of the atmospheric air. It does not so readily grow on
a very light dry soil, being more tardy than some other seeds
in absorbing moisture sufficient for vegetation. It is annual,
flowering in May and June, also occasionally in all open
weather.
Root tapering, small, rigid, sometimes a little tuberous.
Stem more or less branched, striated, leafy, rough with sharp
recurved bristles. Leaves stalked, unequally toothed, rough,
ovate, generally somewhat lyrate; the upper ones more simple,
sessile, spreading or ascending. Calyx-leaves linear, pale
green. Petals bright yellow. Pods upright or a little spreading,
with about 8 angles, rugged, mostly rough with deflexed
bristles, and each terminating in a sword-shaped, compressed,
furrowed beak, not half so long as the pod itself. The seed
is used as mustard.
2 7 4 -S 1
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