Brassicas

[Geoff Dann]

Can anybody help me out with identifying wild-growing brassicas in the UK? It feels pretty hopeless at the moment. Sea kale and wild cabbage are easy. The problems come when I start trying tell the difference between white mustard, black mustard, "field mustard" (rape) and charlock. They all look very similar, and apparently they also hybridise with commercial rape crops.

Is there a way to make this easier?

Does anybody forage for these plants?

[Harvestman]

Interesting challenge Geoff. One I'm certainly not up to. Best of luck.

[Geoff Dann]

Interesting challenge Geoff. One I'm certainly not up to. Best of luck.

The thing is...they're all supposed to be edible, in some way or another, so it's not like you're risking death or anything. I just prefer to know what it is I'm thinking of eating...

[Harvestman]

I think the seed pods are great aids to identification in this group, and of course they aren't out yet.

[boatman]

The ease of hybridisation and the numbers of brassicas in this country make it crazy to develop GM rapeseed. It has already escaped into the wild despite the agri experts saying it could not.

[The Big Lebowski]

Charlock is pretty easy to ID once you've seen it a few times. Black or treacle mustard slightly harder. Then you have hedge mustard (looks like smooth leaf sowthistle).

That's just the easy ones

[xylaria]

Telling the four apart is a tough call. I nearly always have to refer a field guide. I picked up w.keble martin =consice guide of british flora, for free from really good charity called books for free in carmarthen. They are connected with the tool charity harvestmen does stuff witrh and freecycle.

The big feature with brassicas is the seed pods. Black mustard =seed pods are small and point upwards very close to the dark stem. White mustard = seed pods are sword shaped, charlock= imature seed pods have a bobble on the end, rape [nepa]= there is leaf at the bottom of the peduncle [flower cluster] turnip [rapa]= also a leaf at the bottom of the peduncle but the peducle is longer. any combo= say it is hybred.

There is limit to how much mustard leaves you should eat in one go. the seeds on most of them are a very good flavouring, sea radish seeds are really powerful tasting, and are very interesting addition for mustard like suprises. I like rape leaves, but I only eat moderatly, as the taste is quite strong.

[Geoff Dann]

Telling the four apart is a tough call. I nearly always have to refer a field guide. I picked up w.keble martin =consice guide of british flora, for free from really good charity called books for free in carmarthen. They are connected with the tool charity harvestmen does stuff witrh and freecycle.

The big feature with brassicas is the seed pods. Black mustard =seed pods are small and point upwards very close to the dark stem. White mustard = seed pods are sword shaped, charlock= imature seed pods have a bobble on the end, rape [nepa]= there is leaf at the bottom of the peduncle [flower cluster] turnip [rapa]= also a leaf at the bottom of the peduncle but the peducle is longer. any combo= say it is hybred.

There is limit to how much mustard leaves you should eat in one go. the seeds on most of them are a very good flavouring, sea radish seeds are really powerful tasting, and are very interesting addition for mustard like suprises. I like rape leaves, but I only eat moderatly, as the taste is quite strong.

Cheers. That helps a bit. I think I need to just observe them throughout the summer and watch closely when the seed pods start appearing. I've got plenty of other stuff to keep me occupied. I'm going to try collecting wild lettuce sap for medicinal usage today!

[Mafro]

I'm going to try collecting wild lettuce sap for medicinal usage today!

I know what you're up to there Geoff

[mountainm]

Shamanic salad.

[Harvestman]

Geoff, I saw these and thought of you. I think I know what they are, but will see what you think before I say.
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Habitat was a riverbank, at the edge of a recreational area at the edge of town.