Field Mustard Seed Pods Slender and Long

Field mustard, Brassica rapa, is distinguished from the other mustards, like white mustard, charlock, black mustard, and chinese or indian mustard, by the lower lobes of the leaves which practically wrap around the stem.

Ear lobes on leaves of field mustard.

Long, skinny seed pods of field mustard.

The seed pods may be 2 inches long and slender, not to mention numerous.

Field mustard plants heavy with green seed pods.

The 3-ft. tall field mustard plants above were growing in waste ground between an access road and the highway. Heavy with seed pods the tops of the plants tipped over to one side. Field mustard photos taken 17 May 2010.

The road crew will probably mow down the mustard before the seeds ripen, but I’ll keep my eye on this patch for potential harvesting. Spicy mustard sounds nice!