Charlock Mustard / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible

Common Names

Charlock Mustard, field mustard, wild mustard, charlock

Botanical Name

Sinapis arvensis

Scientific Classification

Kingdom – Plantae

Order –Brassicales 

Family – Brassicaceae

Physical Characteristics for Mustard Charlock

Leaves

The leaves are long, with varying degrees of invagination along the leaf stem. Some are hairier than others. The leaves are not paired, and they leave the main stem singly.

Flowers

The whole plant can grow to nearly a metre tall, and tend to branch, ending in small clusters of yellow flowers.

Seeds

The seed pods are small and visibly contain multiple small seeds with a characteristically mustard-y taste.

Habitat

Variations between the species of Mustards; Charlock is more common on clay soils and less often found in the northern regions. White Mustard is more common in eastern areas and prefers more Mediterranean climates.

They have been cultivated widely, and therefore have also escaped widely. Found in hedgerows, waysides, coastal paths and banks.

Known Hazards 

The seeds are toxic and cause gastrointestinal problems, especially if consumed in large quantities.

Could be Confused with

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria Petiolata), Hoary Mustard and Rape. None is a problem as they are all edible and tasty, they will simply lack the mustard-like seed pods.

Edible Uses

All the aerial parts are good additions to foods like salads, quiches, salads and condiments. You can harvest a larger amount of mustard seeds and powder them for a wild addition to your spice rack and home remedy collection.

Late Spring to Summer these plants will be out in flower, leaf and seed, sometimes with a small revival in early Autumn.

Notes on Herbal uses

Being a common group of plants, many mustard family plants have been used ubiquitously in folk medicine, with varying degrees of success. The peppery tasting compounds have been prized for their counter-irritant, inflammation-modulating action on arthritis and rheumatism, but care should be taken with ‘mustard poultices’ because the skin can actually burn and blister. These plants stimulate the circulation.

Extra notes from the Foragers

The name mustard was first recorded in France in 1288 and has its roots in the Latin for ‘burning (ardent) must’. It was often ground with grape must to make into remedies.