Bastard Cabbage - Rapistrum rugosum

Description

An annual crucifer, casual on arable and waste ground; usually roughly hairy and with lobed leaves and light yellow flowers.  The fruits are variable, but very distinctive.  They are in two parts; the lower part is usually oval and the outer (distal) part is larger, rounded and ribbed, abruptly narrowing into the style. 

Similar Species

When not in fruit, this can be mistaken for other yellow-flowered crucifers. The seed pods are the best identification feature.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Photos of whole plant and detail of ripe seedpods

Habitat

Arable and waste ground

When to see it

summer and autumn

UK Status

Frequent and increasing; can become locally common and invasive

VC55 Status

Few records

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Bastard Cabbage
Species group:
Wildflowers
Kingdom:
Order:
Family:
Records on NatureSpot:
1
First record:
10/10/2023 (Timms, Sue)
Last record:
10/10/2023 (Timms, Sue)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records