Asian Mustard

Color: Yellow

Common name: Asian Mustard
Latin name: Brassica tournefortii
Family: BRASSICACEAE

Height: Stems 4-40 inches tall.

Description: Petals 4, free, inconspicuous and dull yellow with 1.5 cm wide and 5-7 mm long petals.
Leaf: Basal rosetted, pinnately lobed with tapered base.

Range: Southwestern California, Desert
Habitat: Introduced plant which is becoming naturalized in many plant communities and habitats. Roadsides, washes, open areas.
Elevation: < 800 m.
Flowering time: Mostly Mar–May

Notes: Annual herb that is not native to California; it was introduced from elsewhere and naturalized in the wild. It doesn't take much water for this plant to sprout early and set seed very quickly to the detriment of native species. The California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) lists plants that cause serious problems in native ecosystems. In the 2006 list, Cal-IPC classifies the statewide impact of Brassica tournefortii as high. Distribution outside California: to s Nevada, Texas; native to Mediterranean. For more information: http://tinyurl.com/4t9vdl5

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