Camelina sativa can be identified most easily by its short, egg-shaped fruits, as all similar species have more elongated fruit.
Common names:
False flax, gold-of-pleasure
Family:
Scientific name:
Camelina sativa
Main flower color:
Range:
Scattered locations in Wales, England and Scotland; an introduced species, from Europe
Height:
Up to 120 cm
Habitat:
Arable fields, waste ground, gardens
Flowers:
Four greenish-yellow sepals, sparsely hairy, and four lemon-yellow petals about twice as long, with included stamens. Arranged in open clusters at the top of the stem, which may branch towards the base
Fruit:
Short, green, hairless, egg-shaped capsules, topped by a residual style
Leaves:
Alternate, narrowly oblong to lanceolate or linear, up to 7 cm long, unlobed, sparsely hairy, usually with untoothed margins. Mainly cauline; basal leaves wither early
Season:
June to July
Rarity:
★★★★★
