Thlaspi arvense

Thlaspi arvense
File:Thlaspi arvense1 eF.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Brassicales
Family:	Brassicaceae
Genus:	Thlaspi
Species:	T. arvense
Binomial name
Thlaspi arvense L.

Thlaspi arvense, known by the common name field pennycress, is a foetid Eurasian plant having round flat pods; naturalized throughout North America. It is also related to the Lepidium genus in the cabbage family.

Edible uses

The field pennycress has a bitter taste; it is usually parboiled to remove the bitter taste. This is mostly used in salads, sometimes in sandwich spreads. It is said to have a distinctive flavour.

Use as a source of biodiesel

Pennycress is being developed as an oilseed crop for production of renewable fuels. The species can be planted in the fall, will germinate and form a vegetative mass which can overwinter. In the spring, the oil-rich seed can be harvested and used as a biodiesel feedstock.

Research

Pennycress is related to the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana. Researchers have begun studying the genetics of pennycress in order to improve its potential use as a biofuel crop. For example, the transcriptome of pennycress has been sequenced.

File:Thlaspiseed.jpg

Seed