Sisymbrium altissimum L.
Brassicaceae
(Mustard Family)
Europe
Tumble Mustard
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Sisymbrium altissimum L.Brassicaceae
(Mustard Family)
Europe
Tumble Mustard
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May Photo
Plant Characteristics:
Erect annual, branched above, 5-10 dm. high, glabrous or nearly so; lower
lvs. 10-15 cm. long, runcinate-pinnatifid with runcinate lateral lobes and a
large subdeltoid terminal one, petioled; upper lvs. reduced, pinnatifid into
linear divisions; pedicels spreading-ascending, 5-8 mm. long; sepals 4-5 mm.
long, outer two with erect horns at tip; petals yellowish-white, 6-8 mm. long;
siliques spreading, rigid, narrow-cylindric, 5-10 cm. long, scarcely 1 mm.
thick; seeds many, 0.6-0.8 mm. long.
Habitat:
Common weed in waste places below 7500 ft., throughout the state,
especially on the Mojave Desert. May-July.
Name:
Sisymbrium, Greek name of some
crucifer. (Munz, Flora
So. Calif. 301). Altissimum,
from altos-simus, very tall, tallest.
(Bailey 10).
General:
Occasional in the study area but may be more common than I think.
I looked for this plant for several years and then found it twice on the
same day, once in Big Canyon along Back Bay Dr. and again in the Eastbluff burn
area. Photographed at Big Canyon.
(my comments). S. altissimum is a troublesome
weed in row crops and thin stands of alfalfa.
It is a prolific seeder, which adds to its seriousness. It has some little value as forage when young.
Due to its ability to readily establish itself, it serves as a soil
binder on light soils. The seed is often carried in impure commercial seeds.
(Robbins et al. 236).
A genus of some size as here recognized; native of temp. parts of the
world. Ours all introd. from
Europe. (Munz, Flora
So. Calif. 301).
Text Ref:
Hickman, Ed. 436; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 301; Robbins et al. 236.
Photo Ref:
Mar-May 90 # 24,24A.
Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by John Johnson.
Computer Ref: Plant Data 399.
Have plant specimen.
Last edit 10/23/02.
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