Photos -> Wild Radish

Common Name: Wild Radish

Latin Name: Raphanus raphanistrum

Description: Wild Radish is a winter annual or annual rising from a tap root. This herbaceous plant can reach 1 m in height. The stems of younger plants have stiff, prickly hairs. The stems become smooth with age. Branching varies from one to several. The hairy leaves are lyre-like (broader at the tip than at the base) with rounded, deeply, irregularly cut lobes. This lobing covers about two-thirds of the blade from the base upwards. Hairs occur on both surfaces. The flowers are yellow to white with purple veins in the petals. All the parts of the flower are in fours. The seed pod is narrow, 2-6 cm long, 3-5 mm wide, and pointed at the tip. The mature, brown pod is jointed with few to several segments. Each 1- or 2-seeded, ribbed segment breaks crosswise from the adjoining segments. The longitudinal ribs are apparent only at maturity. The seeds are 2-3 mm long and have a thin, brown seed coat.

Location: Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, close to the Ranch House.

Date: November 4, 2006

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