Oil-seed Rape - Brassica napus subsp. oleifera

The familiar garish yellow crop that is grown across many fields in Britain but now commonly found growing wild. It grows to 1.5 metres though is frequently smaller. The flowers are slightly over-topped by the buds and the greyish leaves clasp the stem.

Brassica rapa and B. oleraceus (turnip and cabbage)

Stem-leaves clasp stem at base, more or less glaucous/hairless; long seed pods, sticking out from stem, with beak; one row in reach valve (= 2 rows); each valve has one vein; buds slightly overtop flowers, forming 'dome'.

Photos of whole plant in habitat, plus close up of flower head showing seed pods, buds and open flowers

Waysides and field borders in arable countryside.

March - September

Oil-seed Rape is widely grown for the production of animal feed, vegetable oil for human consumption, and biodiesel.

Common as a wildflower growing away from crop fields.

Common

In the current Checklist (Jeeves, 2011) it is listed as Alien, occasional, but frequent as planted crop