Rapistrum rugosum(L.) All. - Turnipweed
Scientific Description:
Annual, up to 1 m, subsimple or branched from base. Base of stem (often violet-coloured) and petioles of at least lower leaves with long stiff retrorse. White hairs. Lower leaves petiolate, lyrate-pinnatifid, toothed, rarely simple; upper leaves much smaller, sessile, entire. Petals 8 × 4 mm, yellow with darker yellow veins. Fruiting pedicels adpressed to stem, 2−5 mm, up to 1 mm thick. Fruit 6−10 mm, glabrous or ± densely covered with stiff white hairs; lower part 2−3 × 1.5 mm, 1−3 seeded, sometimes sterile; upper part 2−3 × 3 mm, ovoid or globose, lengthwise rugose-sulcate; beak 1−4 mm.
Flowering time: April−June.
Habitat: Weed of cultivated places, s.l.−c. 1000 m.
Reference:
Hedge IC (1965). Rapistrum rugosum (L.) All., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 1: 273-274.
Public Description:
Rapistrum rugosum, common names “bastardcabbage”, “common giant mustard” or “turnipweed”, is native to Eurasia and parts of Africa. It is an annual herb producing an erect stem reaching up to about a meter tall. Some scientists have researched the extracts of turnipweed and discovered that it has antioxidant properties.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2015). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapistrum_rugosum, Accessed date: 28.12.2015.
Anonymous 2 (2015). http://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=raru, Accessed date: 28.12.2015 .
Amel O, Besbes M, Hichem B, Ali L, Mahjoub A, Boulbaba S (2013). Antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of extracts from Rapistrum rugosum in Tunisia. Asian Pac J Trop Dis. 3(5): 367–374.
Mutlu B (2012). Rapistrum Crantz., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 293.