FLIXWEED

Descurainia sophia

Cabbage Family [Brassicaceae]

month8may month8jun month8june month8jul month8july month8aug month8sep month8sept month8oct

status
statusZarchaeophyte
flower
flower8yellow
inner
inner8cream
morph
morph8actino
petals
petalsZ4
stem
stem8round
sex
sexZbisexual

Unknown date, Unknown place. Photo: © Bastiaan Brak
It grows up to 1m high and is well-branched, but it doesn't stray into the North or West of the UK.


Unknown date, Unknown place. Photo: © Bastiaan Brak
The leaves are alternate up the stem and narrow-linear, 2 to 3-pinnate, but with few lobes, the end-lobe being slightly oval. It is hairy below.


Unknown date, Unknown place. Photo: © Bastiaan Brak
The flowers are 3mm long have 4 narrow-linear pale-yellow petals which turn fawn-coloured. The stamens, of which there are maybe 8, reach up to 2 different heights. The green stigma with cream coloured style is slightly longer than the 4 higher anthers.

The seed pods are long and thin with numerous seeds lurking within.


Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature : A yellow brassica species with pale yellow flowers which never open beyond about 40° subtended angle. Has finely-divided 2-pinnate to 3-pinnate leaves - which are very distinctive.

It is an annual plant, only rarely biennial.


  Descurainia sophia  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Brassicaceae  

Distribution
 family8Cabbage family8Brassicaceae
 BSBI maps
genus8Descurainia
Descurainia
(Flixweed)

FLIXWEED

Descurainia sophia

Cabbage Family [Brassicaceae]