Sisymbrium loeselii (Tall Hedge Mustard) - photos and description
Plant in above photo was 124 cm tall.
Looking straight down on inflorescence.
Looking straight down on inflorescence.
Upper stem leaf in above photo.
Lower stem leaf in above photo.
Basal leaf in above photo.
Origin: Introduced.
General: Annual plants with a branching growth habit, lower stems with long downward pointing hairs. Stems angled in cross section.
Flowers: Flowers bright yellow in dense cymes. We measured a flower at 5 mm long and a flower at 11 mm diameter.
Leaves: Leaves are thin, and are lobed, the upper leaves divided into lance-shaped divisions, lower leaves into ovate divisions. Stem leaves alternate. We measured the upper stem leaf highlighted in the photo above at 36 mm long by 30 mm wide, and a lower leaf was 55 mm long by 36 mm wide. The Taxonomic Reminder for Recognizing Saskatchewan Plants describes the leaves as runcinate ... I'd say somewhat.
Fruit: Pods are spreading, pedicels more slender than their pods. We measured a pod at 28 mm long by 1 mm wide, and its pedicel (stalk) was 11 mm long by 0.5 mm wide.
Height: Height listed in Budd's Flora to 100 cm, we measured plants to 124 cm tall.
Habitat: Fields, waste ground.
Abundance: Common.
How to identify this plant: 1) Pods 1-4 cm long 2) pedicel at maturity slender 3) upper leaves with lanceolate divisions (Flora of Alberta), 4) Stems with long, downward pointing hairs 5) petals 5-6 mm long.
When and where photographed: Photos taken July 26th, weedy recreation area about 40 km northwest of our home of Regina, SK.