This is a spring flowering plant but on this WFS trip we found an excellent example on some waste ground. Charlock has recently been in the news because of the hybrid which has been discovered by the natural crossing of genetically modified Oil-seed rape (Brassica napus) and this plant Sinapis arvensis. Foolishly the spokesperson advocating genetically modified plants had claimed that such hybrids wouldn't occur but they have. As often happens with plant hybrids though, the seed has not been proved viable so far so the feared ecological advantage of a herbicide resistant native weed hasn't materialised. Yet.
Waste ground near Redbrook, Gloucestershire 6th September 2005
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Added on September 15th 2005