Rapeseed Taken at Skateraw on 12th May 2024 using Nikon D500 with Sigma 600 mm zoom lens. Taken at Torness on 6th June 2021 using Nikon D500 with Sigma 600 mm zoom lens. Rapeseed. Species: Order: Family: Habit: Local Names: Brassica napus. Brassicales. Brassicaceae. Annual Height: Flowers: Feature: Up to 100 cms. It is sown in autumn and remains in a leaf rosette on the soil surface during the winter. The plant grows a long vertical stem in the next spring followed by lateral branch development. It generally flowers in late spring with the process of pod development and ripening occurring over a period of 6-8 weeks until midsummer. The rapeseed pods are green and elongated during development,  ripening to brown. The oilseeds are black and hard at maturity It is the third-largest source of vegetable oil and second-largest source of protein meal in the world.