Family:
Brassicaceae
Toxic Parts:
all
Toxins:
nitrates, glucosinolates
Flower Color:
  • flower color
Found:
haybales, meadows

Time of Greatest Risk

JFMAMJJASOND

Geographical Distribution

Wild mustard distribution - United States

Related Species

Wild Mustard

Sinapis arvensis

Charlock, California Rape, Chinese Mustard, Gal Choy, Brown Mustard
3/ 10
Wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis) is an annual herbaceous plant from the Brassicaceae (Mustard) family. It is considered an aggressive weed in most parts of the United States. The plant has branched, upright stems. It's leaves are alternate, oval to obovate which are petioled, irregularly lobed with toothed margins. It's yellow, 4-petaled flowers are arranged in terminal clusters at the tips of the branches and borne on stalks.

Toxic components
All parts of B. kaber contains sinigrin, which in the presence of the enzyme myrosinase, is converted to glucose, allyl isothiocyanate (mustard oil), and potassium hydrogen sulfate. Mustard oils are poisonous. The toxicity, by ingestion, of allyl isothiocyanate has been determined to be 0.001% of the body weight. Also, mustards occasionally contain toxic concentrations of nitrate that may complicate toxicosis.