Annuals; glabrous or pubescent. Stems erect, branched distally, (1-)2-7(-8.5) dm, sparsely to densely (soft) pubescent at least basally, usually glabrous distally. Basal leaves rosulate; petiole (1-)2-5(-9) cm; blade broadly oblanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate (in outline), 3-8 (-10) cm × (10-)20-40(-60) mm, margins runcinate-pinnatipartite; lobes 2-5 on each side, oblong or lanceolate, much smaller than terminal lobe, margins subentire or dentate, (terminal lobe lanceolate, deltate, or often hastate). Cauline leaves similar to basal; (distalmost) blade with 1 or 2 lobes on each side, much smaller than terminal lobe, (terminal lobe narrowly lanceolate, linear, or hastate). Fruiting pedicels ascending to subdivaricate, stout, nearly as wide as fruit, 3-6 mm. Flowers: sepals ascending, oblong, 3.5-5.5 × 1-2 mm; petals spatulate, (6-)7-9(-10) × 2.5-4 mm, claw 3-5.5 mm; filaments (4-)5-8 mm; anthers oblong, 1-1.8 mm. Fruits narrowly linear, straight, smooth, stout, (5-)6-10 (-13) cm × 1-1.5 mm; valves glabrous or pubescent; ovules (60-)80-100(-140) per ovary; style (subclavate), 1-3(-4) mm; stigma prominently 2-lobed. Seeds 1-1.5 × 0.7-0.9 mm. 2n = 14.

Flowering Mar-early Jun. Waste grounds, roadsides, disturbed sites; 0-1300 m; introduced; B.C.; Ariz., Calif., Mass., Nev., Oreg., Tex., Wash.; Europe; sw Asia; n Africa; introduced also in Central America, South America, Australia.

Duration: Annual

Nativity: Non-Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Annual with soft hairs of different sizes, highly branched stem to 30 cm tall.

Leaves: Basal clustered, deeply pinnately lobed or compound, cauline leaves lanceolate, with 2 basal, lanceolate, spreading lobes, margins entire or few-toothed.

Flowers: Raceme with petals 8-10 mm, pale yellow.

Fruits: Silicle 3-10 cm long, linear, no beak, no hairs or sparse; ascending pedicel 3-6 mm long, style 1-3 mm, club shaped.

Ecology: Found in disturbed areas from below 3,500 ft (1067 m); flowers May.

Notes: Can be told apart from other two Sisymbrium by its generally more hairy nature, its clustered basal leaves, and pedicels thicker than siliques.

Ethnobotany: Unknown, but other species in the genus have uses.

Etymology: Sisymbrium is from a Greek name for some plants of the mustard family, while orientale means eastern.

Synonyms: Brassica kaber var. orientalis

Editor: SBuckley, 2010