Sisymbrium officinale (L.) Scop.
Family: Brassicaceae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
Erysimum officinale L.
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
hedge mustard
Primary Disseminule Type
seed
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Fruit a multi-seeded, dehiscent silique, narrowly awl-shaped, straight, rigid, cross-section 4-angled, hairy or glabrous, slightly torulose or smooth, (0.7)1–1.4(1.8) cm long x 1–1.5(2) wide, widest at base with tip tapered into an inconspicuous beak.
Seed irregular in shape depending on its location within the fruit, typically ovoid or oblong to polygonal in outline, somewhat compressed, cross-section ovoid to triangular, one face longitudinally convex, the other face flat to sharply transversely convex, 1–1.5 mm long x 0.6–0.8(1) mm wide x 0.4–0.6 mm thick, with a distinct longitudinal groove on both faces delineating the radicle from the cotyledons. Surface glabrous, variable in texture, rough, greasy in appearance, color variable, typically dark brown although the radicle often is lighter-colored.
Hilum in a notch, light-colored funiculus often present.
Embryo bent, cotyledons incumbent to obliquely incumbent, endosperm lacking.
Similar Species
See Similar Species Comparison Chart and compare to seeds of Lepidium.
Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)
AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI