Species Detail Forb

Flowers Willow Lake area - Sue Smith		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Chorispora tenella - crossflower Other Common Names: blue mustard, purple mustard, musk-mustard, beanpodded mustard Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub Family: Brassicaceae
Flowers Willow Lake area - Sue Smith


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Seed pods Granite Mtn - Tr 308 Sue Smith	Leaves Granite Mtn - Tr 308 Sue Smith	Plant - summer Willow Lake area Sue Smith	Plant - spring Granite Mtn - Tr 308 Sue Smith

Forb Plant Description

Origin: Introduced Life Cycle: Annual
General Desc: A leafy, somewhat spreading annual branched mostly from the base. The narrow leaves are coarsely-toothed along the margins. The flowers have 4 narrow, pale purple petals. The plant is aromatic.
Identification notes: Annual herb with a large taproot; stems leafy, erect or declining with tip ascending; leaves alternate, stalked, lance-shaped to narrowly egg-shaped, lobed to toothed; flowers of 4 purplish petals, windmill-like.
Height: To 18 inches

Habitat

Habitat Description: Disturbed areas and cultivated lands.
Plant Communities: Disturbed Areas
Elevation: 3200 - 7500 feet

Flower Characteristics

Color: Blue to pale purple Shape: Regular in elongated clusters Tubular: Y Flowering Period: Mar - Jun
Description: Flowers have 4 pale purple petals that are a darker pink at their base; borne terminally on a branch, in a loose, branched cluster. Flower bracts 4, purplish, narrow, forming a tube beneath the petals.

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Green Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Shape: Narrow Leaf Margin: Toothed Leaf Attachment: Alternate Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: Leaves and stems Spines: N
Leaf Description: Leaves and stems are sparsely to moderately covered with minute gland-tipped hairs; leaves are shallowly lobed to toothed (mostly lower leaves) or wavy, lobes sometimes pointed.

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Color: Green
Fruit Type: Pod
Fruit Notes: The 1-1/2 inch long, narrow seed pods curve upward, with sharp points.
Seed Notes: Seeds many.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer