Weed Seed: Sisymbrium loeselii (Tall hedge mustard)

Family

Brassicaceae

Common Name

Tall hedge mustard

Regulation

Secondary Noxious, Class 3 in the Canadian Weed Seeds Order, 2016 under the Seeds Act.

Distribution

Canadian: Occurs in AB, BC, MB, NB, NT, ON, QC, SK (Brouillet et al. 2016^Footnote 1).

Worldwide: Native to eastern Europe and temperate Asia and introduced in North America, western and northern Europe and Japan (USDA-ARS 2016^Footnote 2). In the United States, found in many states except for some in the south (USDA-NRCS 2016^Footnote 3).

Duration of life cycle

Annual or Winter annual

Seed or fruit type

Seed

Identification features

Size

• Seed length: 0.8 - 1.3 mm
• Seed width: 0.5 - 0.8 mm
• Seed thickness: 0.5 mm

Shape

• Oblong-shaped seed, with rounded or truncate ends

Surface Texture

• Seed glossy, slightly wrinkled

Colour

• Seed yellowish; dark orange at the hilum end

Other Features

• Radicle often extends past end of seed
• Distinct furrow can be seen between radicle and cotyledons

Habitat and Crop Association

Cultivated fields, old fields, field margins, pastures, stream banks, vacant lots, roadsides, railway lines and disturbed areas (Frankton and Mulligan 1993^Footnote 4, FNA 1993+^Footnote 5, Darbyshire 2003^Footnote 6).

General Information

Tall hedge mustard's ability to produce chemicals capable of inhibiting germination and growth of nearby plants gives it a competitive edge in rangelands (Bainard et al. 2009^Footnote 7).

Similar species

Tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum)

• Tumble mustard seeds are similar in size, oblong shape, wrinkled surface and the distinct furrow between the radicle and the cotyledons.
• Tumble mustard seeds have a rough rather than a glossy surface. The radicle is at level with the end of the seed, and they are a reddish-brown colour when compared to tall hedge mustard.

Photos

Similar species