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Common dogmustard (Erucastrum gallicum)

Common dogmustard Synonyms: Brassica erucastrum

Description: First collected in Michigan in 1922 along railroad tracks in Washtenaw County.

Habit:

Leaves: Deeply divided, oblong or oblanceolate, pinnately lobed, 3-10 major lobes per side; lobes mostly narrow, shallowly lobed and rounded at lobe tips, terminal lobe largest. Basal and lower leaves 1-11 inches long, 1/3-4 inches wide, smaller as they ascend the stem. Sparsely covered in stiff, curved, appressed white hairs.

Stems: Branched, erect to ascending, sparsely to moderately covered in stiff, curved, appressed white hairs.

Flowers: Elongated clusters at the top and ends of branching stems, pale yellow to nearly white in color, 1/4 to 1/3 inch wide, 4 rounded petals, spatula shaped, narrow at the base, wide spreading at the tip, 6 yellow stamens, 4 sepals that are erect, lance-oblong green to reddish in color and sparsely covered in stiff, curved white hairs.

Fruit and seeds: Smooth, slender, 4-sided pod, 3/4 to 1.5 inches long, short beak at the tip, ascending to slightly curved upwards. Seeds are reddish brown, 1-1.5 mm long, with a honeycomb texture.

Habitat: Native to Europe. Can be found in roadsides, railroads, dumps, gravel pits, gardens, vacant lots, limestone quarries, shores and other disturbed sites.

Reproduction: By seed.

Monitoring and rapid response: Small infestations can be hand pulled.

Credits: The information provided in this factsheet was gathered from Minnesota Wildflowers and the University of Michigan Herbarium.

Individual species images that appear with a number in a black box are courtesy of the Bugwood.org network (http://www.invasive.org).Individual photo author credits may not be included due to the small display size of the images and subsequent difficulty of reading the provided text. All other images appear courtesy of Google (http://images.google.com).


Common Name:

Common dogmustard

Scientific Name:

Erucastrum gallicum

Family:

Brassicaceae
(Mustard)

Duration:

Annual, Biennial

Habit:

Herbs

USDA Symbol:

ERGA