birdsrape mustard Brassica rapa L. Synonyms: Brassica campestris Linnaeus, B. campestris var. oleifera de Candolle, B. chinensis Linnaeus, B. pekinensis (Loureiro) Ruprecht, B. rapa ssp. chinensis (Linnaeus) Hanelt, B. rapa ssp. pekinensis (Loureiro) Hanelt, Sinapis pekinensis Loureiro Other common names: bird’s rape, field mustard, rape, rape mustard, turnip rape, wild mustard, wild rutabaga, wild turnip Family: Brassicaceae Invasiveness Rank: 50 The invasiveness rank is calculated based on a species’ ecological impacts, biological attributes, distribution, and response to control measures. The ranks are scaled from 0 to 100, with 0 representing a plant that poses no threat to native ecosystems and 100 representing a plant that poses a major threat to native ecosystems. Description Similar species: Birdsrape mustard is very similar to the Birdsrape mustard is an annual, winter annual, or introduced rapeseed mustard (Brassica napus). Both biennial plant that grows from thin, slender roots. The Brassica rapa and B. napus can be confused with stems are usually 30 to 100 cm tall and have either no several other yellow-flowered, annual, introduced branches or few distal branches. Basal leaves are bright mustards: Indian mustard (Brassica juncea), white green, lyrate, setose, 10 to 40 cm long, and 3 to 10 cm mustard (Sinapis alba), and wild mustard (S. arvensis). wide with toothed to pinnatifid margins. They are Unlike the Brassica species, both Sinapis species have petiolated with one to four pairs of lateral lobes towards stiff, downward-pointing hairs on their stems and the base. The terminal lobes are larger than the lateral siliques with 3 to 5 veins. Brassica juncea can be lobes. Stem leaves are lanceolate, glaucous, simply distinguished from both B. rapa and B. napus by leaves toothed, sessile, and clasping. Flowers are arranged in that do not clasp the stem and shorter (5 to 10 mm) short inflorescences. Open flowers overtop or equal beaks on its fruits. B. napus can be differentiated from buds. Each flower has four petals that are yellow, B. rapa by its longer flower buds that overtop the open obovate, 6 to 11 mm long, and 3 to 6 mm wide. The flowers, flowers that are cream-colored to pale yellow as sepals are spreading. Siliques (fruits) are ascending to opposed to yellow, broader petals that are 10 to 16 mm spreading, torulose, terete, and single-veined. They are 3 long and 6 to 9 mm wide, and basal leaves that are to 8 cm long and gradually narrow to form beaks that usually glabrous (Hultén 1968, DiTomaso and Healy are 10 to 15 mm long. Seeds are spherical, 1.5 to 3 mm 2007, Gulden et al. 2008, Warwick 2010). in diameter, and brown (Hultén 1968, DiTomaso and Healy 2007, eFloras 2008, Warwick 2010). Clasping leaf base of Brassica rapa L. Photo by N. Kramer. Ecological Impact Impact on community composition, structure, and interactions: Deer, squirrels, and a variety of insects feed on cultivated birdsrape mustard in Canada (Gulden et al. 2008). Birdsrape mustard contains glucosinolates that can irritate the digestive tracts of animals and are toxic if consumed in large quantities (DiTomaso and Flowers overtopping buds on Brassica rapa L. Photo by P. Slichter. Healy 2007). Plants are visited by flies, honeybees, Last Updated: 2010-10-28 by Timm Nawrocki http://aknhp.uaa.alaska.edu bumblebees, and solitary bees and may compete with (DiTomaso and Healy 2007). native plants for insect pollinators. Birdsrape mustard is Potential to be spread by human activity: Birdsrape associated with a wide variety of nematodes and plant mustard is a common crop that is cultivated throughout diseases. Birdsrape mustard can hybridize with several much of the world. Cultivars include turnip, pakchoi, other non-native mustards, including wild mustard and canola (DiTomaso and Healy 2007, eFloras 2008, (Sinapis arvensis) and dogmustard (Erucastrum Warwick 2010). Cultivation of this plant has been gallicum) (Gulden et al. 2008). As dead plant materials documented in interior Alaska (Sparrow et al. 1990). from birdsrape mustard decompose, glucosinolates and Birdsrape mustard reverts to its weedy wild type after it myrosinase from the plant tissues form phytotoxic escapes from cultivation (DiTomaso and Healy 2007, isothiocyanates that suppress the growth of surrounding eFloras 2008). Human dispersal occurs when seeds plants. Living plants also release isothiocyanates into the attach to people, vehicles, machinery, clothing, or shoes soil, but to a lesser degree than do decomposing plant (DiTomaso and Healy 2007). Grazing, domesticated tissues (Petersen et al. 2001, Siemens et al. 2002, animals can spread seeds in their excrement (Gulden et Gulden et al. 2008). al. 2008). Impact on ecosystem processes: Birdsrape mustard Germination requirements: Information specific to the colonizes open ground and disturbed areas (DiTomaso germination of weedy birdsrape mustard is not available. and Healy 2007), where it may decrease nutrient The germination of cultivated varieties declines sharply availability for native species. This species can form a at temperatures lower than 3°C. Seeds can germinate new forb layer on recently disturbed sites (Carlson pers. throughout the growing season but primarily germinate obs.). It may prevent the establishment of some native in fall or spring. Seedlings can withstand temperatures species in areas that are regularly disturbed. In Canada, as low as -20°C during the winter and snow cover birdsrape mustard populations are generally displaced increases the survival rate of seeds that germinate in the by other species as successional processes occur, as long fall. Germination is inhibited by high salinity (Sparrow as repeated disturbance is prevented (Plant et al. 1990, Gulden et al. 2008). Cold stratification is not Biotechnology Office 1999). In the Intermountain West, required for seeds to germinate (USDA 2010). however, birdsrape mustard populations establish and Growth requirements: Birdsrape mustard can grow on persist in naturally open areas (Million pers. obs.). In any soil type, but it grows best on moist, medium- Southeastern Alaska, birdsrape mustard appears to textured soils that have pH levels between 5.5 and 8.3. It integrate into beach rye coastal communities (AKEPIC does not grow as well in waterlogged, sandy, saline, 2010). acidic, or alkaline soils (Gulden et al. 2008). Birdsrape mustard can grow in soil that has high calcium Biology and Invasive Potential carbonate (CaCO3) content. It requires large amounts Reproductive potential: Birdsrape mustard reproduces moisture and nutrients. The plant can withstand by seed only. Seed counts specific to weedy populations temperatures as low as -25°C (USDA 2010). are not available, however, plants produced between 19 Congeneric weeds: Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) and 187 fruits per plant in a naturalized population in and rapeseed mustard (B. napus) are known to occur as California. When grown as a crop in Turkey, plants non-native weeds in Alaska (AKEPIC 2010). Black produced 217 to 404 fruits per plant, and each fruit mustard (B. nigra), Saharan mustard (B. tournefortii), contained 10 or 11 seeds. Seeds remained viable after elongated mustard (B. elongata ssp. integrifolia), and three years in arable soil seed banks and likely remain Mediterranean cabbage (B. fruticulosa) are problem viable longer (Gulden et al. 2008). Snow cover greatly weeds in the U.S. (DiTomaso and Healy 2007). increases the survival rates of seeds during winters in Alaska (Sparrow et al. 1990). Legal Listings Role of disturbance in establishment: Birdsrape mustard Has not been declared noxious is a colonizer of disturbed habitats, roadsides, and waste Listed noxious in Alaska areas (DiTomaso and Healy 2007). It requires disturbed Listed noxious by other states (all Brassica species are ground to germinate (Plant Biotechnology Office 1999). listed as noxious weeds in OK and as noxious weed Large volunteer populations of birdsrape mustard grow seeds in AL, CT, LA, MA, ME, MI, MS, TX, VA, VT) in fields in interior Alaska during years after the plant has been cultivated (Sparrow et al. 1990). Federal noxious weed Potential for long-distance dispersal: Fruits shatter Listed noxious in Canada or other countries (QC, SK) when mature and disperse seeds a limited distance. Birdsrape mustard does not have any other specialized Distribution and Abundance adaptations for dispersal. Seeds can be spread in the Birdsrape mustard commonly grows along roads and excrement of grazing animals (Gulden et al. 2008). railroads in Canada and the U.S. (DiTomaso and Healy Some seeds may be transported on animal feet or fur, 2007, Gulden et al. 2008). It can be a serious weed but most seeds do not disperse far from the parent plant problem in interior Alaska in fields on which it has been Last Updated: 2010-10-28 by Timm Nawrocki http://aknhp.uaa.alaska.edu previously cultivated (Sparrow et al. 1990). Birdsrape Management mustard is self sustaining outside of arable fields. It is Birdsrape mustard can be controlled by hand-pulling; most abundant near urban areas and fields where it has however, manual control must be repeated annually until been cultivated (Gulden et al. 2008). the seed bank is depleted (DiTomaso and Healy 2007). Native and current distribution: Birdsrape mustard is Control may not be necessary in areas that do not native to Eurasia (Warwick 2010). It was introduced to receive regular disturbance because native species will North America as an agricultural crop and as a eventually displace birdsrape