Leaves

Grows from a rosette of lobed leaves at the base. Leaves sometimes described as toothed like a dandelion, but without the milky-white sap.

Flowers

The flowers, which appear all year round in the British Isles, are white and small, 2.5 mm in diameter, with four petals and six stamens. They are borne in loose racemes.

Seeds

Tiny brow seeds, smaller than a pin head, many in each purse.

Stem

From the base emerges a stem about 0.2–0.5 m tall, which bears a few pointed leaves which partly grasp the stem.

Fruit

Flattened, two-chambered seed pods, which are triangular to heart-shaped, each containing several seeds.

Taste

A faint mustard-like taste.

Frequency & law

Very common and not restricted

Possible confusion

Field pennycress maybe, and other species of the same genus, all edible and no poisonous lookalikes that I’m aware of.

Habitat

Arable land, gardens, waste places etc, it is a common weed of cultivated soil. A virtually cosmopolitan plant, found in most regions of the world including Britain.

How to harvest

Leaves in spring before flowering. Seeds in autumn. Roots in autumn/winter.

Cooking tips

The seeds can be ground with vinegar to make a mustard substitute.

Other uses

The seed, when placed in water, attracts mosquitoes. It has a gummy substance that binds the insects mouth to the seed. The seed also releases a substance toxic to the larvae. ½ kilo of seed is said to be able to kill 10 million larvae.

Folklore

The alternative common name “Mother’s heart” was associated with a belief that if you picked the plant and spilled the seed from the seed pod, you’ve broken your mother’s heart and now she will die. Macabre, and thankfully not true as far as I’m aware!