Arizona Wild Flowers
Wildflower Pictures And Photos

Sahara Mustard, Brassica tournefortii

Sahara Mustard, Brassica tournefortii

Brassica, (Brassica tournefortii) Sahara Mustard Not Native	Brassica, (Brassica tournefortii) Known Invasive Plant

Sahara Mustard Brassica tournefortii, Mustard Family: ( Cruciferae ) formerly, ( Brassicaceae ), Sahara Mustard. Also Called: Asian Mustard, African Mustard, Moroccan mustard, Desert Mustard, Southwestern Mustard, Mediterranean Mustard, Mediterranean Turnip, Wild Turnip, Prickly Turnip, and Turnip Weed. Sahara Mustard is native to many areas of the Old World from north Africa and from the Middle East east to southern Europe and Pakistan. It is probably the most dangerous invasive weed that has entered the United States. Sahara mustard is taking over the Desert Southwest at low and mid elevations from southeastern California to southern Nevada and South into the states of Baja California and Sonora. It favors sandy, disturbed soils at low elevations, but its range is expanding rapidly into undisturbed soils including rocky hillsides in Arizona Upland. Height: Up to about 3 feet. Flowers: Flowers occur in a cluster on top of long green stem. They are yellow to about 1/8" long with 4 petals. Stalk: The flower stalk is about 18" - 30" long, smooth, and dark green. Blooming Time: Mid December - May. Seed Pods: Long up to 2" long, slender, seed pods. Leaves: The basal rosette of divided hairy leaves can span three feet. Found: Found throughout lower elevations in Arizona. Elevation: 0 - 2600 Feet. Habitat: Irrigated fields, moist fallow fields, roadsides. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken March 21, 2003. Glendale.