Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
|
buzzy
|
Purple Oil Seed Rape??I don't really think this is what it was, but I came across a field planted with a crop, the flowers of which were clearly cruciferous (the same shape as oil seed rape flowers) but pale lilac to white in colour. Not as tall and branchy as OSR. Such seed pods as there were, were long and thin (but still immature). No photographs, as I was accompanied by a better botanist, who took away a specimen but has yet to nail it. 
Any suggestions?
I suppose it could be bird cover.
Henry
|
Rob R
|
Flowering, now?
|
Ty Gwyn
|
Linseed i presume.
|
Treacodactyl
|
From the description it sounds more like sweet rocket, Hesperis matronalis, or a relative.
|
Mistress Rose
|
I would have thought linseed from the flower, but wouldn't expect it to be in flower now and the seeds are not long and thin. Linseed, or flax, can be in varying shades of blue, possibly even purple or pinky, or white.
|
marigold
|
Linseed isn't cruciferous and the seed pods are round. What were the leaves like?
|
marigold
|
Lady's Smock or Bittercress? Very early to be in flower, but the mild wet weather might have favoured them. I can't think why anyone would grow either as a crop though. Unless it's a green manure that has been left too long perhaps.
|
Lorrainelovesplants
|
alfalfa?
|
marigold
|
There a some cover crop possibilities here- fodder radish, texel greens? Though again this seems an odd time for themto be in flower.
|
marigold
|
alfalfa? |
Is a legume, not a brassica 
|
Rob R
|
alfalfa? |
Is a legume, not a brassica
And still in the ground at this time of year.
buzzy
|
Flowering, now? |
Yep.
Henry
buzzy
|
Linseed i presume. |
No, nothing at all like linseed. (Which has blue flowers (round here), not lilac/white)
Henry
Ty Gwyn
|
GM.
|
buzzy
|
Linseed isn't cruciferous and the seed pods are round. What were the leaves like? |
Much like OSR.
Henry
buzzy
|
There a some cover crop possibilities here- fodder radish, texel greens? Though again this seems an odd time for themto be in flower. |
I will search engine these and the other suggestions when I can.
Have to go and get Windy's breakfast now!
Henry
dpack
|
i think there is a purple oil seed variety but tis very early
|
buzzy
|
i think there is a purple oil seed variety but tis very early |
I'd not be surprised at the purple OSR possibility.
As for being early, lots of things are early this year, round here, at least.
And I saw yellow OSR flowering in December - though whether that was early for 2014 or late for 2013 I don't know. 
Henry
Rob R
|
And I saw yellow OSR flowering in December - though whether that was early for 2014 or late for 2013 I don't know.
Henry |
Was it perhaps late flowering mustard? If not, for either December or March, we'll probably be seeing Hairyloon's veg oil going up in price this year...
jamanda
|
It sounds a bit like stock, but I don't think that gets grown as a crop plant.
|
LynneA
|
Hybridised with Honesty?
|
dpack
|
And I saw yellow OSR flowering in December - though whether that was early for 2014 or late for 2013 I don't know.
Henry |
Was it perhaps late flowering mustard? If not, for either December or March, we'll probably be seeing Hairyloon's veg oil going up in price this year...
some of the mustards were still flowering late round here
a few are grown as crop both for eating and for oil /medicine
but
dpack
|
among these?
|
buzzy
|
And I saw yellow OSR flowering in December - though whether that was early for 2014 or late for 2013 I don't know.
Henry |
Was it perhaps late flowering mustard? If not, for either December or March, we'll probably be seeing Hairyloon's veg oil going up in price this year...
some of the mustards were still flowering late round here
a few are grown as crop both for eating and for oil /medicine
but
@RobR - well, it might have been mustard, only saw it from the car. It was a fairly scrappy crop - I thought it might have been a field of volunteers from a poorly cleared previous crop, to be honest. But on the whole it's wall to wall OSR in this part of the world.
Interesting link, dpack. Don't think it was experimental, but you never know.
Henry
buzzy
|
among these? |
Can't find it there.
My botanist friend lives just down the road from the field - I'm relying on her to go back and get better specimens when the seed pods are riper! 
Henry
buzzy
|
There a some cover crop possibilities here- fodder radish, texel greens? Though again this seems an odd time for themto be in flower. |
Marigold, you have won tonight's star prize!
It was indeed Fodder Radish (Raphanus sativus var oleiferus) grown in this instance as a short season crop to protect the soil from leaching over the winter. It has now been "sprayed off" and will be ploughed in before a spring crop is sown.
Henry
dpack
|
glad it has a name
|
marigold
|
There a some cover crop possibilities here- fodder radish, texel greens? Though again this seems an odd time for themto be in flower. |
Marigold, you have won tonight's star prize!
It was indeed Fodder Radish (Raphanus sativus var oleiferus) grown in this instance as a short season crop to protect the soil from leaching over the winter. It has now been "sprayed off" and will be ploughed in before a spring crop is sown.
Henry
Home Home Home Home Home