Plant Image
Flowers
Willow Lake - Sue Smith


Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants

Descurainia sophia - herb sophia

Synonyms: Sisymbrium sophia, Sophia sophia
Other Common Names: flixweed tansymustard, fluxweed, herb-sophia, flaxweed tansymustard, pinnate tansymustard, tansymustard
Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub

Family: Brassicaceae


   
 
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Flowers
Willow Lake
Sue Smith
Leaves
Willow Lake
Sue Smith
Plant - summer
Willow Lake
Sue Smith
Plant - summer
Willow Lake
Sue Smith
Forb Plant Description

Origin: Introduced   Life Cycle: Biennial or annual
General Desc: Erect winter annual, often distally branched; 2 to 3 times pinnately compound feathery leaves; small yellow flowers; narrow seed pods 1/2 to 1-1/4 inches long.
Identification notes: Stems are 10 to 30 inches tall, branched with star-shaped hairs. Leaves 2 to 3 times pinnate, up to 4 inches long. Sepals 3/4 inch long. Petals about as long as sepals. Seed pods 1/2 to 1-1/4 inches long. Seeds in 1 row in each chamber of the fruit.
Height: To 30 inches


Habitat

Habitat Description: Found on open and disturbed ground.
Plant Communities: Disturbed Areas
Elevation: 3000 - 7500 feet


Flower Characteristics

Color: Yellow     Shape: Regular in elongated clusters     Tubular: N     Flowering Period: Apr - Jun
Description: Small petaled yellow flowers are clustered along side branches of the main stem; bracts 4, yellowish green and narrow; petals 4 yellow, small, spatula-shaped, slightly recurved; stamens 6.


Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Green     Leaf Type: Compound     Leaf Shape: Pinnatifid     Leaf Margin: Dissected     Leaf Attachment: Basal and alternate     Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: Leaves     Spines: N
Leaf Description: Green, 2 to 3 times pinnately divided, appearance is fern-like. The first stage of the plant is a basal rosette of leaves followed by flower stems.


Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Color: Green to brown   
Fruit Type: Capsule
Fruit Notes: Long, narrow seed pod contains one row of 10 to 20 seeds in each chamber.
Seed Notes: Tiny, reddish-brown seeds become sticky when moistened.



  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  
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