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Yellow and Orange Wildflower Gallery

4 Petal Flowers - Mustard Family

           

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) - Mustard family
London Rocket (Rocket Mustard) Sisymbrium irio
Narrow pointed petals on 3/16" wide flower grow in 1/2"-1" wide clusters at the top of the stem. Both the flower stem and the cluster stem lengthen to produce long pod structures. Lower lobed leaves are sharply pointed that reach halfway up the stem. Upper leaves linear and long. Plant reaches 3 feet tall or more.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, March 2005
(Introduced, native of Eurasia, intrusive - Taylor, Brown, Coke)

Similar Species

Fall Tumble Mustard Sisymbrium altissimum
1/2" white or yellow flowers. Pods are also long and thin but are spaced far apart. Leaves are fern-like to linearly lobed. Lower stem is hairy.
(Introduced, native to Mediterranean, intrusive - Coleman, Tom Green)

           

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) - Mustard family
Western Tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
This is a very delicate mustard plant. Narrow petals on 3/16" wide flower grow in 1/2"-1" wide clusters at the top of the narrow stem. Both the flower stem and the cluster stem lengthen to produce long pod structures. Pods are 1/2" long green, 3-sided bananas. Small leaves are fern-like and grow mostly at the base. Plant reaches 3 feet tall.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor)

Similar Species

Flixweed Descurainia sophia
Not a big plant. Leaves are fine linearly lobed.
(Introduced - Taylor, Callahan, Tom Green)

        

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) - Mustard family
Bladderpod (Popweed) Lesquerella gracelis
Teardrop petals on 1/4" wide flower grow at the top of the stem. Both the flower stem and the cluster stem lengthen to produce long pod structures. Round pods are about 1/4" wide. Leaves are strap-like. Plant grows to about a foot tall.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, March 2005, March 2007
(Native of Texas)

                 

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) - Mustard family
Annual Bastard Cabbage (Turnipweed, Ball Mustard) Rapistrum rugosum
Round petals on a flower 1/4" wide, grow at the top of the stem in a tight cluster. Round pods are about 1/16" wide at the end of a short stem along the stalk. Lower leaves are large, 6"-8" long, and have a round part with two smaller segments. Upper leaves are thin, 2" long getting shorter up the stalk. Plant grows in a round mound up to 4 feet tall.
This plant is in nearly every wheat field and possibly all the vacant lots in the county. And yet, the charts do not list my county as its range.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2005, April 2006
(Introduced, Native of Eurasia, intrusive)

Similar Species

Littlepod False Flax Camelina microcarpa
Yellow flowers in loose cluster. Round pods on long stems, smooth and pointed with a definite seam ridge, held perpendicular to main stem and curve upward.
(Introduced, native to Eurasia - Coleman, Shackelford)

     

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) - Mustard family
Purple Pigeon Kale Brassica oleracea
This plant lived outside in my backyard for about 5 years without mulching. It bloomed only once then died that fall.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2005
(Cultivated, purchased, native of Europe)

Other Species in My Area

Field Mustard (Turnip Mustard) Brassica rapa
Small loose clusters of yellow or white flowers at top of long stem. Thin pods on short stems are at a right angle to flowering stem, spaced far apart. Leaves trilobeular. Leaves are roundish but highly variable, clasping, lobed clasping, stalked. Tuberous root has been eaten in Europe for 4000 years.
(Introduced - Brown)

Charlock Mustard Sinapis arvensis
Yellow flower, tiny bouquet. Pods tiny, long, bumpy. Leaf small.
(Introduced - Coleman, Brown)