TALL HEDGE MUSTARD
Sisymbrium loeselii
MUSTARD FAMILY (Brassicaceae)
Identification
- Flowering time - May, June, July, August
- Common in disturbed ground at FF and NW
- Showy, yellow flower clusters
- Deeply toothed leaves with arrow-shaped tips
- Long, thin seed pods with a tiny knob at the tip
This naturalized annual, introduced from Europe, grows to 3 feet tall. The arrow-shaped leaves are deeply notched, up to 10 inches long (D); they become progressively smaller further up on the erect stem which has long downward pointing hairs (A,D). The numerous small yellow flowers each have 4 petals; they are arranged to form clusters (racemes) (B,C). The narrow, straight to slightly upcurved seed pod (silique) is about 1 inch long. It forms in the place of each spent flower as new ones are formed above on the elongating stem (E).
Common along roadsides and disturbed ground at both Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods. Flowering occurs mainly from May through August, although it may continue later, sometimes into early winter in mild years.
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