wild radish
Family
BrassicaceaeScientific Name
Raphanus raphanistrum
Habit
Seedlings have stiff hairs on the stem and veined heart to kidney shaped cotyledons. Mature plants reach heights of 30-90 cm tall with branching, flowering stems arising from a basal rosette.
Leaves
Basal leaves are oval shaped divided in to 5-15 segments. Lobes increase in size outward. Stem leaves are alternate and reach lengths of 7.5 cm long decreasing in size upward.
Identifying Characteristics
Alternately arranged deeply lobed leaves, yellow flowers with obvious veins and fruit pods that sink in between seeds.
Flower Seed Head
Clusters of yellow flowers on 10-25 mm stalks, appear June through September. Flowers have 4 petals, are 10 to 20 mm long, and sometimes have purple veins.
Seed Fruit
The Fruit is pod shaped like a pea pod only pointed on one end with tight constrictions between the seeds. Pods are 3-7.5 cm long with 4-10 seeds inside. Pods break into single seeded barrel-shaped segments. The rarely seen seeds are reddish brown and egg-shaped measuring 6 mm long and 2 mm wide.
Where Found
Mostly found in the northeastern and north central states. This species is found in disturbed soils like fall seeded forage crops, cultivated agronomic and horticultural crops, and nurseries.
Growth Habit
woody bush or tree
Thorns or Spines
not present
Approximate Flower Diameter
Varies:
pencil,
dime
Dominant Flower Color
yellow
Flower Symmetry
bilateral symmetry
Leaf Hairs
no hairs
Leaf Arrangement
alternate
Leaf Margin
Varies:
lobed,
serrated
Leaf Structure
simple
Leaf Stalk
longer than leaf
Stem Hairs
no hairs
Stem Cross Section
round or oval
Milky Sap
not present
Root Structure
taproot
Life Cycle
winter annual
Ochrea
not present
Plant Type
Herb