white mustard

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• white mustard
• yellow mustard

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Brassica alba
• Leucosinapis alba
• Raphanus albus
• Rhamphospermum album
• Eruca alba

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Brassicales, it is classified under the family Brassicaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Sinapis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern primarily concentrated within the regions of Northern Europe. Its presence is documented across various island territories, including the Faroe Islands and Iceland. Additionally, it can be found growing throughout the landscapes of Denmark and Finland. The species also maintains a notable range within Great Britain. Together, these locations highlight its preference for the northernmost reaches of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sinapis alba is characterized by its ability to thrive in a variety of disturbed and open environments, commonly colonizing habitats such as crop fields, old fields, riversides, and roadsides. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1350 m AMSL, with an average elevational range occurring around 2600 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1350 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, old fields, rivers, roadsides

Life history

The life history of Sinaapis alba is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental progression—from germination and vegetative growth to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. In terms of its ecological strategy and structural classification, it is categorized as a therophyte, a life form defined by plants that survive unfavorable seasons as ephemeral, highly resistant seeds. This biological pattern allows the species to rapidly colonize disturbed habitats and exploit seasonal resource availability before completing its reproductive cycle.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Sinapis alba is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. As a terrestrial and independent plant, it does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant maintains a self-supporting structure with an erect shoot orientation, rather than acting as a liana, vine, or climber. In terms of stature, it exhibits a relatively low profile with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.696 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.696 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sinapis alba is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy. Its foliar morphology exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, maintaining a mean length of 10 cm. The leaves possess an oblong form, with widths fluctuating between 1 cm and 10 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 7.5 cm. These dimensions contribute to an average leaf size of 23.16 cm², while the Specific Leaf Area (SLA) averages 209.8 cm²/g, reflecting the plant's leaf mass per unit area and its resource acquisition efficiency.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

oblong

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf size mean:

23.16 cm²

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

209.8 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sinapis alba is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being absent. The plant produces yellow flowers arranged in a raceme inflorescence, with individual flower lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.6 cm to a maximum of 1.1 cm. The flowering period typically begins in February and concludes in July. Pollination is a biotic process primarily driven by insects, specifically bees. Self-fertilization is noted as absent, emphasizing the importance of these pollinators. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a capsule-type fruit. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 2.6 cm (ranging from 2 cm to 4 cm) and a mean width of 0.325 cm (ranging from 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm). Each fruit is prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.0040121488 g, though they can range from a minimum of 6.46e-05 g to a maximum of 0.00704 g. Dispersal of the seeds occurs through unspecialized methods as well as anthropochory, where human activity aids in their movement.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

1.1 cm

Flower length min:

0.6 cm

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

4 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.6 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.4 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.325 cm

Fruit width min:

0.3 cm

Inflorescence :

raceme

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00704 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0040121488 g

Seed mass min:

6.46e-05 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sinapis alba has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Biotechnology and bioengineering
3. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Chemicals

Sinapis alba has 120 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Sinalbin, Glucosinolates, Sinigrin, BETA-SITOSTEROL, CALCIUM.

Sinalbin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research
3. Journal of biochemical and biophysical methods
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Glucosinolates

1. Structure (London, England : 1993)
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Sinigrin

1. International journal of food microbiology
2. Biochemistry
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Biochemical journal

MAGNESIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Biochemical journal

POTASSIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Biochemical journal

SINAPIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

SODIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Biochemical journal

Sinapine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Activities

Sinapis alba has 428 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Neuroprotective, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, Acaricide, Acetylcholinergic.

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Adjuvant

1. Dr. Duke

Aggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Sinapis alba has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include anaphylaxis, asthma, cancer, cough.

Anaphylaxis

1. Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology

Asthma

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Cancer

1. Natural product research

Cough

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Preparations

Sinapis alba has 3 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Nanoscale geraniuim waste (GW), aqueous-methanolic extract (1:1; v/v), extract of seeds of Brassica alba.

Nanoscale geraniuim waste (gw)

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Aqueous-methanolic extract (1:1; v/v)

1. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Extract of seeds of brassica alba

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica