365 Urban Species. #122: Early Yellowrocket

[urbpan]

Urban species #122: Early yellowrocket Barbarea verna

The mustard family, Brassicaea, is disproportionately represented among urban plants. Perhaps this is because its members do not form mycorrhizal relationships (a beneficial, but time-consuming symbiotic relationship with fungi). Or perhaps deliberate introductions are to blame. After all, Eurasian plants in this family are some of the most common greens and vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi (I cheated; those first six are all varieties of a single species) horseradish, mustard, water cress, and turnip are the least obscure. Many weedy species, favored for their ease of cultivation (they're weeds) have been brought to North America for their greens, seeds, or roots. To the list we have been compiling, which includes shepherd's purse and garlic mustard, we can add early yellowrocket.

Early yellowrocket is closely related to wintercress, and it is random chance that I encountered one for this project before the other. At a distance I called, "Look, a wild mustard!" but it took some work to pin it down to species. Its flowers are typical of a mustard, four small petals in a cross formation, but unlike the two species listed so far these are yellow, not white. This individual was found growing alone, surrounded by dandelions and cinquefoil, but apparently can be found in profusion. Various states list various Barbareas as invasives, but are generally given less dire status than some others.

Comments

[zalice.livejournal.com]

Interesting, I've been wondering what that little flower was.

So, I've been rampaging through my grandfather's woods ripping up garlic mustard... there is so much of it! Is there anything useful one might do with it? For example, eat it or use it to repel bugs? I've just been hacking it up and composting it.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

It is edible, but I can't imagine using it in the quantities that you are undoubtedly finding it (by the ton). Pesto seems to be the natural idea for using it. Here's a page of recipes: http://www.ma-eppc.org/morerecipes.html

I've been pulling it from the area near my deer enclosure and dumping it in with the deer. Wild deer supposedly don't eat it, but they have a wide variety to choose from. The pile is all gone the next day, so someone is eating it.

Hacking it up and composting it is a good idea too--especially if you catch it before it goes to seed, and your compost is hot enough that it doesn't survive and reroot.

I'm glad you're fighting the good fight!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I've been wondering what that little flower was

Various forms of field mustard (Brassica sp.) have a very similar flower. Fortunately, they're all edible. Unfortunately, by the time they flower, they won't taste as good.