Wild Plants of Malta & Gozo - Plant: Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. raphanistrum (Wild Radish)

Wild Radish

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Nomenclature
Species name:	Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. raphanistrum L.
Author(s):	Carl von Linn�; Sweden, 1707-1778
General names:	Wild Radish, White Charlock, Jointed-Potted Charlock
Maltese name:	Ravanell salvaġġ
Plant Family:	Brassicaceae/ Cruciferae (Mustard (Cress) Family)
Name Derivation:	Raphanus = from "Raphanos" which means quick-appearing, because of the rapid germination of the seeds (Greek); raphanistrum subsp. raphanistrum = from the same Greek rootword "Raphanos" used in the genus. (Greek).
Synonyms:	Raphanistrum arvense, Raphanus silvestris, Rapistrum arvense, Rapistrum raphanistrum
Remarks:	-

Botanical Data

PLANT STRUCTURE:
Characteristic	Growth Form	Branching	Surface
Description	Erect : Upright, vertically straight up well clear off the ground.	Moderately Branched : Considerable number of secondary branches along the main stem.	Hispid : Having stiff, bristly hairs but not spiny.
General Picture

LEAVES:
Characteristic	Arrangement	Attachment	Venation
Description	Alternate : Growing at different positions along the stem axis.	Stalked / Petiolate : Hanging out by a slender leaf-stalk.	Pinnate venation : Lateral veins which diverge from the midrib towards the leaf marhins.
General Picture

Characteristic	Leaf Shape	Leaf Margin	Remarks
Description	Irregular Pinnate Lobes (Terminal lobe being largest) : Compound arrangement of several lobes of various sizes and depths with the lowest being the smallest and most independent (deeply lobed), and the upper terminal lobe being the largest.	Crenate : Shallow, smooth and rounded teeth.	Leaf Texture Leaf texture is rough due to very tiny stiff hair.
General Picture

FLOWERS:
Characteristic	Colour	Basic Flower Type	No. of Petals	No. of Sepals
Description	WHITE Possess indigo or bluish veins, more prominent when seen from the underside of the flower.	Cruciform : A flower with four petals at right angles to each other forming a shape of a cross.	4	4 (Erect, and purple in colour).
General Picture

Characteristic	Inflorescence	Description	Ovary	Stamens
Description	Raceme : Simple, elongated, indeterminate cluster with stalked flowers.	Cluster of white flowers at the apex of the branching stems. Each single flower consists of 4 spoon-shaped, non-overlapping white petals diagonally arranged to form the shape of a cross. The petals have a characteristic blue or violet network of veins. The flower has 6 rather small stamens and a pistil.	Superior : Ovary situated above the flower parts (the calyx, corolla, and androecium). In other words, these are attached below the ovary.	6, Tetradynamous : Having four long stamens (located centrally) and two shorter ones (located laterally).
General Picture

Characteristic	Scent	Average Flower Size	Pollen Colour	Other Notes
Description	None	20-25mm	Lemon Yellow	-

SEEDS:
Characteristic	No. Per Fruit	Shape	Size	Colour
Description	4-12	Globular Spherical or slightly ovoid.	4mm	Brown
General Picture

FRUIT AND OTHER BOTANICAL DATA:
Characteristic	Fruit Type	Colour of Fruit	Subterranean Parts	Other Notes
Description	Siliqua : A dry dehiscent pod-like fruit which is longer, often many times than broad, so having the shape of an elongated pouch.	Green Turns straw-colour or brown when seed pod is ripe.	Taproot : A rooting system where there is the main descending root of a plant having a single dominant large structure from which a network of smaller and long roots emerge.	-
General Picture

Plant Description
Life Cycle:	Annual or Biennial
Habitat:	Weedy places in fields and countrylanes. Also frequent in waste sides and coastal areas.
Frequency:	Very Common
Sources in Malta:	Very Common near fields and countrylanes. Few examples include Qormi (Wied il-Kbir), Rabat, Mtarfa, Chadwick Lakes, Buskett and Bahrija.
Plant Height:	20-100cm
Flowering Time:	Dec - May
Poison:	Not Poisonous
This plant is usually stated to be either annual or perennial, but in Malta it is definitely annual since it does not survive the hot dry Summer. It is seen during the months of Winter and Spring. The stem possesses tiny, stiff but non-spiny bristles. . The stem usually attains a red purple colour, especially the parts exposed to direct sunlight. This colour may be seen also in other plant parts such as in leaf stalks, sepals, and fruit pods. The Leaves are all stalked and have a compound shape. They consist of smaller, lateral, nearly opposite leaf lobes located at the lower and central part followed up by a large roundish terminal leaf lobe. The leaf lobes near the stem are very small, while those further out get progressively larger, with the terminal one being the largest of them all. With growth, the terminal lobe forms lateral indentations which give rise to new leaf lobes. These then separate from the parent and give rise to independent leaflets (leaf lobes). The younger cauline leaves are lanceolate and unlobed. Most leaves have a crenated outline, and have numerous tiny stiff hairs. Like most other species of the Cruciferae family, the plant's inflorescence consists of racemes. The flowers are generally white, but there are also pale yellow and lilac forms which are seldom or not found in Malta. The 4 petals are spread out diagonally forming a cross shaped corolla. They have prominent purple/blue veins, especially when seen from the under side (back) face. The flowers possess 6 tetradynamous stamens (4 large central and 2 small lateral) around a central and longer style tipped with a swollen stigma. Sepals are narrow, elongated, reddish/wine coloured or sometimes green and erect. The seeds are developed in a silique; an elongated pod-like structured fruit. The young pods are green and may have a wine/purple stripe. They have a pointed beak and are about 8mm thick. When getting ripe, the fruit forms prominent constrictions between the seeds or in other words its body becomes bulging with seeds inside. It also gets brown in colour. No bristles are found on the siliqua, but their stalklets have plenty. Seeds have a rough spherical shape and are brown in colour.

Additional Information

Nativity and distribution

Origin

The origin of this plant is Eurasia (Europe & Asia) [WWW-13]. It is believed that it is the ancestor of cultivated radish (Raphanus sativa) [272]. The cultivated radish is unknown in a wild state, but is supposed to have come from Southern Asia, and may be descended from the wild Raphanus Raphanistrum of the Mediterranean shores. [WWW-03]

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked [2, 105]. A somewhat hot taste, they are finely cut and added to salads or used as a potherb [183]. It is best to use just the young leaves in spring, older leaves soon become bitter [9].
Seed - raw or cooked. A very pungent flavour, the seed can be ground into a powder and made into a paste when it is an excellent substitute for mustard [2, 9, 115, 183]. The sprouted seeds have a somewhat hot spicy flavour and are a tasty addition to salads [183].
Flowers - raw. A nice addition to salads. The flower buds are used as a broccoli substitute, they should be lightly steamed for no more than 5 minutes [9].
Young seed-pods - raw. Crisp and juicy, they must be eaten when young because they quickly become tough and fibrous [KF].An edible oil is obtained from the seed [115].

Medicinal Uses

Antirheumatic [13] (acts against rheumatism - a painful disorder of joints or muscles [271]).

Possible poisonous effects

It was stated by Linnaeus that in wet seasons this abounds as a weed among barley, in Sweden, and being ground with the corn, it is eaten in barley bread, causing violent convulsive complaints, or an epidemic, spasmodic disease. Other authorities say that it is harmless, liked by domestic animals and bees. [WWW-03]

Cultivation details

Prefers a rich soil with ample moisture [16, 52]. Dislikes very heavy soils [37]. This plant is a host of an eelworm that attacks cultivated crops [13]. This species is possibly the original source of the cultivated radish, R. sativus [46].
The flowers are very attractive to bees [108].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. [KF]

Personal Observations

Diseased plants
While searching the plants for photography some plants that had strange morphological features were encountered. It is believed that these plants were diseased. Photos of such plants are found in the photo gallery below. (click here to see one now). The morphological and physiological symptoms observed were:

The effected parts have a white, pale green or pale yellow layer which releases lots of fine, powder-like material.

Loss of functionality

Loss of diversity (Eg: petals, sepals and reproductive organs look the same)

Malformation and gigantism (effected parts are large and more fleshy esp. the style, anthers and sepals.

The leaves are rarely effected, and it seems that the disease effects only the upper flowering stems, hence buds, flowers and fruit. On shaking the diseased part a fine white powder is released. (Spores ??) [SM]

These symptoms are caused by a fungal disease called White Rust (Albugo candida). It is a common disease of Brassica Rapa , Brassica Juncea and other cruciferous weeds. Thanks to Trenton Nowosad (P.Agr.) for this information supplied by email.

Other flower forms
The other colour forms of the flower (pale yellow or lilac) are very rare or more probably not found in the Maltese islands.H [SM] However there are 2 other subspecies reported in Malta and these are:

Raphanus raphanistrum subspecies maritimus (probably extinct, recorded in 1920s )

Raphanus raphanistrum subspecies landra (ocassionally found at coastal areas)

Raphanus raphanistrum subspecies raphanistrum (= the common Raphanus raphanistrum)

Photo Gallery

Photo of the several white flowers of the plant.	Photo of a few flowers in situ. Each flower consists of 4 petals at perpendicular angles to each other.	Photo of 2 cross shaped flowers and buds. Note the deep violet veins in the petals of the opened flowers.	Photo of a flower (lateral view), showing that the central style (with a pale green stigma) is quite longer than the yellow stamens (total 6).

Close up photo of a flower showing the 6 stamens with yellow anthers and a central style with swollen stigma. The latter may be covered with pollen and appear yellow.	Photo of a flower. Note the spoon shaped petals, each having a narrow linear base and a rounded apex.	Photo of a flower. They measure about 22mm across.	Close up photo of a young flower showing into focus its reproductive organs at the centre. The central style and stigma are hidden at the centre between the anthers. With time the ovary and style elongate and adult flowers will have a longer style than the stamens.

Photo of a flower (lateral view) showing the sepals. The 4 sepals are often reddish-purple (sometimes green), long, non-overlapping and erect. They have also few, non-spiny bristles.	Close up photo of a flower in situ. Spoon shaped petals are arranged in the shape of a cross. This flower is sometimes referred to as having the shape of a Greek cross.	Photo of a flower cluster in situ. Flowers have white petals and reddish, elongated sepals (calyx).	Photo of a flower in situ.

Dissected parts of a flower which consists of 4 sepals, 4 petals, 6 stamens and a single pistil.	Close up photo of a young fruit. The apex is the swollen stigma, followed by the green style and finally the reddish ovary which contains rows of developing seeds. Flower parts (sepals, petals, stamens) fall off.	Scanned image of a flower (dark background). The arrangement of the 6 stamens can be easily seen, that is 4 central and 2 shorter and lateral stamens.	Scanned image of a flower (dark background).

Scanned image of cluster of flowers. This plant forms flowers in racemes.	Photo of the underside (back) of flower showing the deep purple-blue veins of the petals. These are more prominent on the back.	Annotated scanned image of a longitudinal section of flower showing its flowering parts, namely the sepals, petals, stamens and pistil with a swollen stigma.	Close up photo of a mature bud.

Scanned image of cylindrical, purple red buds.	Scanned image of various petals scanned from the underside (back) and upper side. As it can be seen, the deep purple-blue veins are more prominent on the underside part of the petals.	Magnified scanned image of a petal against a dark background.	Magnified scanned image of a petal and its 'artistic' pattern of deep purple-blue veins.

Photo of many plants in their preferred habitat, that is some uncropped or abandoned field with rich soil.	Photo of a young plant in an uncropped field. Leaves are initially like a basal rosette.	Photo of a plant in situ. Height varies between 20 to 100cm.	Close up photo of the stem, showing the tiny, white, thorn-like bristles. In many plants, the stem has a reddish-brown colour.

Scanned image of 3 leaves taken from different plants. Generally, adult leaves have pairs of basal leaf lobes and a single and larger apical leaf lobe.	Scanned image of a young leaf (right) and the morphological changes that take place with maturation of leaves. As it can be seen, the leaf gets more broad and lobed at the base.	Enlarged annotated scanned image of a typical adult leaf.	Photo of an adult leaf consisting of small basal leaf lobes and a terminal, large leaf lobe.

Photo of basal leaves in situ.	Photo of several erect fruit pods called siliqua.	Close up photo of a single siliqua. They are glabrous and have a spreading-out stalk. The fruit-pods are erect; perpendicular with the stalk.	Close up photo of 2 fruit pods. Note the reddish tip and base (at the stalk/fruit junction).

Photo of fruit pods in situ; glabrous, stalked and having a tapering tip.	Photo of siliqua showing its characteristical constrictions located between the seeds inside.	Scanned image of several fruitpods (siliqua) at increasing maturity level (left to right). The internal, well-spaced, dark seeds can be noted against the bright background.	Magnified scanned image of one siliqua. It has a long, pointed, red-tipped beak and few constrictions around the gaps between the seeds inside.

Some plants had these curious outgrowths most probably caused by Albugo candida (White rust). Note how the flower changes and suffers from lack of diversity, and gigantism.	Photo of plant with White Rust disease. Note the white powder released from the effected part.	Photo of plant with White Rust disease. Note that the diseased part has an abnormal white or pale green layer.	Photo of plant with White Rust disease. Note the difference in flower structure - enlarged, lacking in diversity and function.

Photo of plant with part of the flowering stem being diseased with White Rust and covered in a whitish pale green layer.	Photo of plant with White Rust disease. Most of the apical structures are diseased flowers which have loss of diversity, function and are swollen.	Image of the reddish brown seeds.	Photo of seedling in situ.

Colour illustration of the plant and some of its parts taken from Flora Danica Online.	Colour illustration of the plant taken from Bilder ur Nordens Flora (1901 - 1905), Carl Axel Magnus Lindman.	Magnified image under light microscope of pollen. They have a rugby-ball shape, pitted and possess 3 grooves.	-

Further Information and Links
Uses of plants as colorants (including Wild Radish) by Mary Hancock	Wild radish as a pest - info by CSIRO European Labs
More information on Wild Radish from University of FLorida	Turnip Yellow Mosaic Tymovirus

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Species name:

Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. raphanistrum L.

Author(s):

Carl von Linn�; Sweden, 1707-1778

General names:

Wild Radish, White Charlock, Jointed-Potted Charlock

Maltese name:

Ravanell salvaġġ

Plant Family:

Brassicaceae/ Cruciferae (Mustard (Cress) Family)

Name Derivation:

Raphanus = from "Raphanos" which means quick-appearing, because of the rapid germination of the seeds (Greek); raphanistrum subsp. raphanistrum = from the same Greek rootword "Raphanos" used in the genus. (Greek).

Synonyms:

Raphanistrum arvense, Raphanus silvestris, Rapistrum arvense, Rapistrum raphanistrum

Remarks:

-

Life Cycle:

Annual or Biennial

Habitat:

Weedy places in fields and countrylanes. Also frequent in waste sides and coastal areas.

Frequency:

Very Common

Sources in Malta:

Very Common near fields and countrylanes. Few examples include Qormi (Wied il-Kbir), Rabat, Mtarfa, Chadwick Lakes, Buskett and Bahrija.

Plant Height:

20-100cm

Flowering Time:

Dec - May

Poison:

Not Poisonous

Nativity and distribution

Origin

Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Antirheumatic [13] (acts against rheumatism - a painful disorder of joints or muscles [271]).

Possible poisonous effects

Cultivation details

Prefers a rich soil with ample moisture [16, 52]. Dislikes very heavy soils [37]. This plant is a host of an eelworm that attacks cultivated crops [13]. This species is possibly the original source of the cultivated radish, R. sativus [46]. The flowers are very attractive to bees [108].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. [KF]

Personal Observations

Photo of the several white flowers of the plant.

Photo of a few flowers in situ. Each flower consists of 4 petals at perpendicular angles to each other.

Photo of 2 cross shaped flowers and buds. Note the deep violet veins in the petals of the opened flowers.

Photo of a flower (lateral view), showing that the central style (with a pale green stigma) is quite longer than the yellow stamens (total 6).

Close up photo of a flower showing the 6 stamens with yellow anthers and a central style with swollen stigma. The latter may be covered with pollen and appear yellow.

Photo of a flower. Note the spoon shaped petals, each having a narrow linear base and a rounded apex.

Photo of a flower. They measure about 22mm across.

Close up photo of a young flower showing into focus its reproductive organs at the centre. The central style and stigma are hidden at the centre between the anthers. With time the ovary and style elongate and adult flowers will have a longer style than the stamens.

Photo of a flower (lateral view) showing the sepals. The 4 sepals are often reddish-purple (sometimes green), long, non-overlapping and erect. They have also few, non-spiny bristles.

Close up photo of a flower in situ. Spoon shaped petals are arranged in the shape of a cross. This flower is sometimes referred to as having the shape of a Greek cross.

Photo of a flower cluster in situ. Flowers have white petals and reddish, elongated sepals (calyx).

Photo of a flower in situ.

Dissected parts of a flower which consists of 4 sepals, 4 petals, 6 stamens and a single pistil.

Close up photo of a young fruit. The apex is the swollen stigma, followed by the green style and finally the reddish ovary which contains rows of developing seeds. Flower parts (sepals, petals, stamens) fall off.

Scanned image of a flower (dark background). The arrangement of the 6 stamens can be easily seen, that is 4 central and 2 shorter and lateral stamens.

Scanned image of a flower (dark background).

Scanned image of cluster of flowers. This plant forms flowers in racemes.

Photo of the underside (back) of flower showing the deep purple-blue veins of the petals. These are more prominent on the back.

Annotated scanned image of a longitudinal section of flower showing its flowering parts, namely the sepals, petals, stamens and pistil with a swollen stigma.

Close up photo of a mature bud.

Scanned image of cylindrical, purple red buds.

Scanned image of various petals scanned from the underside (back) and upper side. As it can be seen, the deep purple-blue veins are more prominent on the underside part of the petals.

Magnified scanned image of a petal against a dark background.

Magnified scanned image of a petal and its 'artistic' pattern of deep purple-blue veins.

Photo of many plants in their preferred habitat, that is some uncropped or abandoned field with rich soil.

Photo of a young plant in an uncropped field. Leaves are initially like a basal rosette.

Photo of a plant in situ. Height varies between 20 to 100cm.

Close up photo of the stem, showing the tiny, white, thorn-like bristles. In many plants, the stem has a reddish-brown colour.

Scanned image of 3 leaves taken from different plants. Generally, adult leaves have pairs of basal leaf lobes and a single and larger apical leaf lobe.

Scanned image of a young leaf (right) and the morphological changes that take place with maturation of leaves. As it can be seen, the leaf gets more broad and lobed at the base.

Enlarged annotated scanned image of a typical adult leaf.

Photo of an adult leaf consisting of small basal leaf lobes and a terminal, large leaf lobe.

Photo of basal leaves in situ.

Photo of several erect fruit pods called siliqua.

Close up photo of a single siliqua. They are glabrous and have a spreading-out stalk. The fruit-pods are erect; perpendicular with the stalk.

Close up photo of 2 fruit pods. Note the reddish tip and base (at the stalk/fruit junction).

Photo of fruit pods in situ; glabrous, stalked and having a tapering tip.

Photo of siliqua showing its characteristical constrictions located between the seeds inside.

Scanned image of several fruitpods (siliqua) at increasing maturity level (left to right). The internal, well-spaced, dark seeds can be noted against the bright background.

Carl von Linn�;
Sweden, 1707-1778

Raphanus = from "Raphanos" which means quick-appearing, because of the rapid germination of the seeds (Greek);
raphanistrum subsp. raphanistrum = from the same Greek rootword "Raphanos" used in the genus. (Greek).

Prefers a rich soil with ample moisture [16, 52]. Dislikes very heavy soils [37]. This plant is a host of an eelworm that attacks cultivated crops [13]. This species is possibly the original source of the cultivated radish, R. sativus [46].
The flowers are very attractive to bees [108].