Raphanus raphanistrum
Jointed charlock
(c) Emanuele Santarelli, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Emanuele Santarelli · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Raphanus raphanistrum (Jointed charlock) is a non-native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by (R. sativus). Key differences in fruit width and seed shape provide clear morphological separation.
Jointed charlock is a naturalized annual found in California Floristic Province and Great Basin regions in disturbed areas and fields at elevations below 1,100 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces pale yellow to white flowers with petals 15 to 25 millimeters long. Growing with hairy stems 20 to 80 centimeters tall that are reflexed-hairy, it spreads in open areas with distinctive foliage. Its leaves are lyre-shaped with 1 to 4 pairs of lateral lobes, ranging 3 to 15 centimeters long and having a deeply divided, irregular shape. The fruit develops as a distinctive segmented pod with a woody terminal segment up to 11 centimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species (R. sativus). Key differences in fruit width and seed shape provide clear morphological separation.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, fields
Elevation: < 1100 m
California counties: Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Diego, Ventura, Contra Costa, Fresno, Lake, Orange, San Bernardino, Tulare, Yuba, Colusa, San Joaquin, Riverside, Placer, Sacramento, Amador, San Luis Obispo, Nevada, Sonoma, Kern, San Francisco, Humboldt, Madera, Butte, Alpine, El Dorado, Santa Clara, Shasta, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Mariposa, San Mateo, Modoc, Marin, Alameda, Merced, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, Tehama, Monterey, Sutter, Mendocino, Napa, Siskiyou, Yolo
Outside California: North America, native to Mediterranean Europe
Bloom period
Raphanus raphanistrum blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Cakile: Radish is hairy throughout; sea rocket is smooth and hairless.; vs Cardamine: Radish pods are thick and corky; bitter cress pods are thin and papery.; vs Eruca: Radish pods are thick and don't split; arugula pods are thin and split open.; vs Mutarda: Radish pods break into segments; mustard pods split lengthwise along seams.; vs Diplotaxis: Radish pods are corky and indehiscent; wall rocket pods are thin and split open.
Frequently asked questions
Is Raphanus raphanistrum native to California?
No. Raphanus raphanistrum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Raphanus raphanistrum bloom?
Raphanus raphanistrum blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Raphanus raphanistrum grow?
Raphanus raphanistrum occurs in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Diego, Ventura, Contra Costa, Fresno, Lake, Orange and other counties, at elevations of < 1100 m.
What plant family does Raphanus raphanistrum belong to?
Raphanus raphanistrum is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Raphanus.
What habitat does Raphanus raphanistrum grow in?
Raphanus raphanistrum grows in Disturbed areas, fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.