Rape
Rape field
Flowerhead
Upper leaf clasping stem
Lower leaves not clasping stem
Seed pods with beaks
Rape on the central reservation of the A303
Brassica napus subsp. oleifera
Oil-seed Rape
Brassicaceae
March to September but road side plants can last through
to December.
It is found throughout the country, but is most common
in the South and the Southeast.
See the BSBI distribution map for Oil-seed Rape
Rape is widely planted and is a widespread casual on
waste land, brownfield sites and beside roads. It has
dramatically increased along dual carriageways and
motorways in the last few years.
Rape is a neophyte and subspecies of B. napus, which
has been known in the wild since the mid 17th century.
Cultivation of Rape took off in the 1980s due to EU
agricultural policies.
It is an annual or biennial herb which can grow up to
1.5m.It is usually shorter.
The flowers are 4 petalled (typically cruciferous), bright
yellow and approximately 2cm across.
The leaves are greyish and the upper ones clasp the stem.
Seeds are in a single row in cylindrical pods, which have
distinctive beaks.
The pollen of Oil-seed Rape ia a potent allergen, which
can cause serious allergic reactions in people and horses.
Previous page: Purple Willow
Next page: Red Campion
Rape field
Flowerhead
Upper leaf clasping stem
Lower leaves not clasping stem
Seed pods with beaks
Rape on the central reservation of the A303
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