124 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
SPECIES I—BRASSICA SINAPISTRUM. Bois. 
Puate LXXXITI.* 
Sinapis arvensis, Linn. eich. Ic. Fl. Germ. et Helv. Vol. II. Zeér. Tab. LXXXVI. 
Fig. 4425. 
Brassica Sinapistrum, Benth. Handbook Brit. Fl. p. 92. 
Sinapis arvensis, Linn. et Auct. Plur. 
Leaves oval or oblong; the lower ones stalked and sub-lyrate ; 
the upper ones irregularly sinuated and toothed; the uppermost 
sessile, toothed. Pods ascending, generally glabrous, sub-cylindrical, 
slightly beaked; valves with 3 prominent ribs; beak deciduous, 
conical, slightly 2-edged, shorter than valves. Seeds 3 to 8 in each 
cell, very dark brown, smooth (to the naked eye). 
A weed in cultivated ground. Very common. Occurs throughout 
the whole kingdom. 
England, Scotland, Ireland. Annual... Summer, Autumn. 
Stem erect, or ascending, furrowed, 1 to 2 feet high, more or 
less branched; branches spreading. ‘Leaves variable in shape, 
frequently all undivided in small examples, but in luxurious 
specimens the lower leaves have usually a few small segments on 
the petiole below the main portion of the lamina. Flowers sub- 
corymbose, about 2 inch across, bright yellow. Pods 1 to 2 inches 
long, in a lax raceme ; pedicels in flower about equal to the calyx, 
in fruit much shorter than the pod. Beak of the pod about 3 inch 
long, frequently containing a single seed. Whole plant dull green ; 
the stem, leafstalks, peduncles and pedicels rough, with short, 
reflexed, bristly hairs. ; 
This plant closely resembles Raphanus Raphanistrum, but the 
leaves are much less divided, the sepals spreading, and the petals 
much brighter yellow. When in fruit the two cannot be con- 
founded, as in Raphanistrum the pod has no valves, and doubtless 
represents the beak of Brassica Sinapistrum. 
The Charlock, or Corn Mustard. 
French, Moutarde des Champs. German, Der Acker Senf- 
It is a troublesome weed on arable land throughout England, but is capable of 
being used when boiled as a pot herb, and is so employed in Sweden and Ireland. It 
is much relished by cattle, and especially by sheep, but is nowhere cultivated as fodder. 
The seeds form a good substitute for mustard, and have been used as food for birds, but 
being pungent are not desirable for them. 
* The Plate is E. B. 1748, unaltered. 
