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Yellow and Orange Wildflower Gallery

Mustard Family

Mustard plants typically have four petals, four sepals, and six stamens.  Petals can be yellow, white, pink, or purple.  The family is divided into two groups: those with fruit pods that are more than three times as long as broad (called a silique), and those that are less than three times as long as broad (called a silicula).  Pods can come in many shapes and sizes but all have two halves with a partition in the center.  Leaves come in a variety of shapes but are typically clasping and become simpler and smaller up the stem.  Some mustards are native, some introduced.

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) - Mustard family

Small Tumble Mustard Sisymbrium loeselii

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.   Tri-lobed leaves are sharply pointed that reach halfway up the stem.  Plant reaches 3 feet tall or more.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, March 2005

(Introduced from Europe)

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) - Mustard family

? Common Name **zy 4** Scientific name

Teardrop petals on 1/4" wide flower grow in 1-2" wide clusters at the top of the stem.  Both the flower stem and the cluster stem lengthen to produce long pod structures.   Tri-lobed leaves have oval shape and cluster at the base of the stem.  Plant reaches 3 feet tall or more.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2004

(Native ?)

Hunting Similar Species

possibly   Hedge Mustard Sisymbrium officinale

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) - Mustard family

Western Tansy Mustard Descurainia pinnata ssp. glabra

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?)

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

(Native to Texas)

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) - Mustard family

? Common Name **zy 7** Scientific name

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.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2005

(Native ?)

Hunting Similar Species

possibly   Shortpod Mustard (Mediterranean Mustard) Hirschfeldia incana

(Introduced)

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