Sisymbrium orientale L.
Family: Brassicaceae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
none
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
oriental mustard
Primary Disseminule Type
seed
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Fruit a many-seeded, dehiscent silique, linear-cylindric, straight, stout, glabrous or hairy, smooth, (3)6–10(13) cm long x 1–1.5 mm wide, without conspicuous beak.
Seed squarish-oblong to polygonal in outline, somewhat compressed, cross-section bilobed or ovoid, one face longitudinally convex, the other face flat to sharply transversely convex, 1–1.5 mm long x 0.7–0.9 mm wide x 0.5–0.6 mm thick, with a distinct longitudinal groove on both faces delineating the radicle from the cotyledons. Surface glabrous, variable in texture, rough, shiny, yellowish-brown with hilar end a darker brown, dark green or purplish speckles sometimes present, especially on the cotyledonary lobe.
Hilum in a notch, white 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