Brassica-Sinapis-Sisymbrium Key - Sask
This is a key to species in genera Brassica, Sinapis and Sisymbrium that are found in Saskatchewan. These species are similar to canola and have the following characteristics:
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tall plants |
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plants with well developed stem leaves, leaves not concentrated at base of plant |
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leaves usually lobed (occasionally entire in Sinapis arvensis) |
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flowers small and yellow |
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pods long and narrow, circular in cross section (not flattened or four-angled) |
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pods opening lengthwise via separation of two valves, not breaking up cross ways along constrictions between seeds |
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pods with or without beak, but if beak present it is not flattened |
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seeds plump, not flat |
Information was taken from Budd's Flora, Manual of Montana Vascular Plants, and Flora of North America. It contains:
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links to the species descriptions in Flora of North America |
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common names |
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rarity/abundance information, taken from Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Saskatchewan by Vernon L. Harms. N - native, CC - very common, C - common, FC - fairly common, UC - uncommon, VUL - vulnerable, THR - threatened, END - endangered, EXT - possibly extirpated, ABS - absent, VER? - verification uncertain, IN - introduced, ADV? - possibly adventive, R - rare (applies to introduced species only). |
1a. Pods without a beak (Sisymbrium) (2)
1b. Pods with a beak (3)
2a. Stem with spreading hairs; upper leaves with narrow, linear
divisions; pods 5-10 cm long Sisymbrium
altissimum C
2b. Stem with reflexed hairs; upper leaves with lanceolate divisions; pods about
4 cm long Sisymbrium
loeselii CC
3a. Pods with a large flat or angled beak, often containing a
seed (Sinapis) (4)
3b. Pods with a slender round or conical beak without seeds (Brassica)
(5)
4a. Pods densely pubescent; the beak usually longer than the
body Sinapis
alba (White Mustard) C
4b. Pods glabrous; the beak half as long as the body Sinapis
arvensis (Wild Mustard) C
5a. Upper stem leaves cordate and clasping (6)
5b. Upper stem leaves cuneate at the base, not clasping (7)
6a. Flowers usually not overtopping buds,
rarely at same level, when open; petals pale yellow, 10-16 mm; terminal segments
of fruits (5-) 9-16 mm Brassica
napus (Canola) UC
6b. Flowers overtopping or equaling buds when open; petals deep yellow, 6-11
(-13) mm; terminal segments of fruits 8-22 mm Brassica
rapa (Canola) C
7a. Silique body 2-4 cm long Brassica
juncea (Brown Mustard, Indian Mustard) C
7b. Silique body 8-15 mm long Brassica
nigra (Black Mustard) VER?
The mustard condiment is produced from cultivars of Sinapis alba, Brassica nigra, or Brassica juncea.
Canola oil is produced from cultivars of Brassica napus, Brassica rapa or Brassica juncea.