Tumble Mustard
Sisymbrium altissimum

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb. It grows 40-120 cm tall. The stems are erect and branched above. The leaves at the base are in a ring. The leaves are oblong and can be divided. They are 5-20 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. The flowers are yellow. The seeds are 1 mm long by 0.5 mm wide.

It can become a weed and spread viruses. There are about 90 Sisymbrium species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in roadsides, fields, pastures, waste grounds, disturbed sites, grasslands from sea level to 2500 m altitude in China. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,600 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Britain, Central Asia, Chile, China, Europe, Hawaii, Hungary, India, Japan, Kashmir, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Marquesas, Mongolia, New Zealand, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, Tajikistan, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, USA, W Asia, naturalized worldwide

How it is used for food

The leaves and young shoots are eaten raw in salads or cooked as a potherb. The seeds are ground and used to flavour soups. Oil is pressed from the seeds.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, oil

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Atsa, Da suan jie, Hardal otu, Magas zsombor, Mostacilla, Nabo chileno, Tall rocket, Tavukgotu

Synonyms

Sisymbrium pannonicum Jacq.; Hook.f. & Anders in part;