Wild radish, Jointed charlock, White charlock
Raphanus raphanistrum

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb. It is an annual herb. It grows 80-100 cm high. It is rough to the touch. The stems branch at the base. The stems are solid but with grooves along them. The stems have downward directed hairs. The lower leaves are larger than the leaves higher up the stem. The lower leaves occur in a ring. The lower leaves are lobed and 20 cm long. The flower is at the top. The flower petals can be white, yellow or lilac and do not overlap. The fruit is a long pointed pod. It is 3-7 cm long and 3-4 mm wide. It is constricted between the seeds. It is held erect.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows near damp sites. It can grow in tropical and temperate places. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,100 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Balkans, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Chile, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe (country/location of origin), Fiji, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libya, Luxembourg, Manchuria, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean (country/location of origin), Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sicily, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Spain, St Helena, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, USA, West Indies, Yemen, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

CAUTION: The plant contains glycosides. The seeds are poisonous. The leaves are used in vegetable soups. They are also boiled then used in salads. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat. The seeds are used as mustard. The seeds are sprouted and used in salads. The flowers are eaten raw. They are also cooked as a garnish for traditional bread.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds - spice, flowers

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bedhaka, Bouham-mou, Ermulatta, Fiore di San Giuseppe, Gramolaccio, Jaramago, Karamancar, Karaturp, Lapistra, Lass'ne, Mostaza, Nabica, Nabo, Nabo-bravo, Pisciacane, Rabanete-de-cavalo, Rabanete-selvagen, Rabani to salvaje, Rabanito, Rabanito silvestre, Rabano, Rabizon, Rapistre, Rodakva divlja, Runch, Saramago, Skellog, Turpoti, Turpotu, Yabarni turp, Ye luo bo

Synonyms

Raphanistrum raphanistrum (L.) H. Karst; Raphanistrum vulgare Gray; and others