Black Mustard - introduced (*Brassica nigra)

Family: Brassicaceae (Cabbage, Turnip family).

Native of Europe.

Occurrence: Scattered. Less common than some of the other yellow-flowered members of the cabbage family.

Identification:

• the leaves at the base of the plant have several side lobes
• the lower leaves are bristly on both sides
• the fruit are short (1 to 2 cm long) and are held close to the stems
• the fruit is slightly contracted between the seeds
• the fruit is almost square in cross section
• the fruit ends in a "beak" which is about as long as the seed-bearing part
• the seeds are dark red-brown.

Distinguishing features are the short fruit which grow close to the stems, and the relatively long beak on the fruit.