Practical
Plants

Sinapis arvensis

Charlock

an annual member of the Sinapis genus in the family Brassicaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Sinapis
Life cycle
annual
Height
0.75 m
Fertility
Bees, Flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is possibly poisonous once the seedpods have formed[14].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked[7][9][11][3][13]. Somewhat hot, the young leaves are used as a flavouring in salads, where they add a piquant flavour[15][6]. Older leaves are used as a potherb[6]. It is best to use just the young shoots and leaves in the spring, older leaves are bitter[15]. Flowering stems - cooked[15][13]. A pleasant, cabbage/radish flavour, they can be used as a broccoli substitute before the flowers open[6]. The stems should be lightly steamed for no more than 5 minutes[15]. The flowers can also be cooked as a vegetable or used as a garnish[6]. Seed - it can be sprouted and eaten raw[3]. A hot flavour, it can be added to salads and sandwiches[6]. The seed can be ground into a powder and used as a food flavouring. It has a hot mustard flavour[9][15][10][2]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[1][12][13].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Black depression', 'Melancholia' and 'Gloom'[8].

Product or use
Bach

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An edible semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed. It is also used in making soap[13] and burns well so can be used for lighting[9].

Product or use
Oil

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, south and east from Norway to N. Africa, Siberia and S.W. Asia.
Habitat
Cultivated ground, usually on heavy calcareous soils[4][5]. A serious weed of agriculture, especially in spring sown crops[1][5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - germinates in spring and autumn in the wild. It should not really need much encouragement.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Usually found on heavy alkaline soils in the wild[5]. Succeeds on most soils. Dislikes shade. The plant harbours an eelworm that attacks other crops[4]. It is therefore best not to grow it in a garden setting.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩

  3. Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2

    ↩1↩2

  4. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  7. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  8. Chancellor. P. M. Handbook of the Bach Flower Remedies C. W. Daniel Co. Ltd. 1985-00-00 ISBN 85207 002 0

    ↩

  9. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  11. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩

  12. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  13. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩

  15. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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