Hedge mustard

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• hairy-pod hedge mustard
• hedge tumble-mustard
• hedge-mustard
• Hedge Mustard
• crambling mustard
• crambling rocket
• tumble mustard
• wild mustard
• European hedge mustard
• Hedge Wild Mustard

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sisymbrium ruderale
• Valarum officinale
• Sisymbrium leiocarpum
• Velarum officinale
• Velarum tzvelevii
• Erysimum officinale
• Velarum leiocarpum
• Phryne vulgaris
• Erysimum officinale var. leiocarpum
• Erysimum vulgare
• Chamaeplium officinale
• Sisymbrium officinale subsp. leiocarpum
• Velarum officinale subsp. leiocarpum
• Crucifera sisymbrium
• Hesperis officinalis
• Klukia officinalis
• Sisymbrium officinale proles ruderale
• Sisymbrium officinale f. simplex
• Hesperis niagarensis
• Hesperis ruderalis
• Sisymbrium niagarense
• Sisymbrium officinarum
• Kibera officinalis
• Sisymbrium officinale var. leiocarpum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Brassicales and placed in the family Brassicaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Sisymbrium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as hedge mustard, exhibits a specific presence across several regions of Northern Europe. Its distribution is clearly documented in the country of Denmark. Furthermore, it can be found growing within the landscapes of Finland. The species also inhabits the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical range extends to the island of Iceland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sisymbrium officinale is characterized by its ability to thrive across a vast altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2900 m AMSL. This wide elevational tolerance allows the species to colonize diverse climatic zones. Its primary habitat is classified as an anthropogenic area (Área Antrópica), indicating that the plant is frequently found in environments significantly modified by human activity, such as disturbed soils, roadsides, agricultural lands, or urbanized settings.

Elevational range max:

2900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Sisymbrium officinale are characterized by a specific karyotypic structure, most notably defined by a diploid chromosome number of 14. This chromosomal arrangement serves as a fundamental genetic baseline for the species, influencing its reproductive stability and evolutionary lineage within the Brassicaceae family. The stability of this number, $2n = 14$, provides the genomic framework necessary for the expression of its diverse secondary metabolites and phenotypic variations. Such genetic consistency is critical for maintaining the hereditary integrity of the plant's various physiological adaptations across different environmental niches.

Chromosome number :

14

Life history

The life history of Sisymbrium officinale is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. Functionally classified as a therophyte, it survives the unfavorable seasons primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until conditions are optimal for rapid growth. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its vegetative structures as it approaches the end of its seasonal cycle. As a therophyte, its life strategy is centered on a brief period of intense metabolic activity, allowing it to colonize disturbed habitats and complete its reproductive phase before the onset of environmental stress.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Sisymbrium officinale is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This terrestrial, independent plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber or liana. As a non-epiphyte, it grows strictly in terrestrial environments. The plant's stature varies in height, with a minimum measurement of 0.15 m, a maximum of 1 m, and a mean plant height of approximately 0.52 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.522333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sisymbrium officinale is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process optimized for moderate environments rather than extreme arid or succulent conditions. As a non-carnivorous organism, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake, and it does not possess the specialized mechanisms required for nitrogen fixation. The plant's leaf morphology plays a crucial role in its resource management, featuring an elliptic form with a mean leaf size of approximately 63.44 cm². The leaves exhibit significant dimensional variability, with a mean length of 6 cm (ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 16 cm) and a mean width of 5.5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 7 cm). Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 267.17 cm²/g, reflecting its strategy for balancing light interception and leaf mass per area.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

16 cm

Leaf length mean:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

63.44333 cm²

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width mean:

5.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

267.17 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sisymbrium officinale is primarily driven by sexual processes, as the plant is characterized as bisexual and lacks asexual reproduction methods. The flowering period typically commences in May and concludes in July, featuring small, yellow flowers that range in length from 0.3 cm to a maximum of 0.4 cm. Pollination is achieved through biotic mechanisms, specifically utilizing an insect pollination syndrome. Self-fertilization is present within the species, ensuring reproductive success. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a dehiscence-type capsule. These capsules vary in size, with a mean length of 1.275 cm (ranging from 1 cm to 2 cm) and a mean width of 0.175 cm (ranging from 0.15 cm to 0.175 cm). Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds. The individual seeds are quite small, with a mean length of 1 mm (up to a maximum of 1 mm) and a mean mass of approximately 0.000284 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.00023 g to a maximum of 0.000344 g. Dispersal of these seeds is categorized as unspecialized, though it also exhibits anthropochorous tendencies, meaning it is often spread through human activity.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

0.4 cm

Flower length min:

0.3 cm

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.275 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.15 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.175 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.000344 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000284333333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.00023 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Sisymbrium officinale has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Apigetrin, CINNAMIC ACID, Flavonoid.

Apigetrin

1. Journal of proteome research

CINNAMIC ACID

1. Journal of proteome research

Flavonoid

1. Journal of proteome research

Preparations

Sisymbrium officinale has 5 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include acetone, chloroform, ethanol, methanol, water.

Acetone

1. Journal of proteome research

Chloroform

1. Journal of proteome research

Ethanol

1. Journal of proteome research

Methanol

1. Journal of proteome research

Water

1. Journal of proteome research