Sisymbrium orientale L.

Smaller pedicels, 3-6 mm long, and different leaf lobes distinguishes it from the previous species. A variable species in hairiness and S. dagestanicum Vas. with somewhat rigid hairs, is not different from it. It seems to be rare in our area.

The above first record of Sisymbrium orientale from China is based on Li Huaxi 80 (MO) and the type of S. fujianense.

Also see the following paper, which appeared after publication of the FOC treatment: ZHOU Hongxia, LIU Ende, LIU Zhenwen et al. 2007. An alien species, Sisymbrium orientale (Brassicaceae), emerged in Yunnan, China. Acta Bota. Yunnan. 29(3): 333-336.

Annual or biennial, up to 60 cm tall, branched, hairy below and on leaves with simple hairs. Basal leaves rosulate, often withering before flowering, stalked, usually 4-5-jugate; terminal lobe triangular, oblong or lanceolate, often hastate. Racemes 15-25-flowered, up to 20 cm long in fruit. Flowers 5-6 mm across, yellowish. Pedicels 3-6 mm long, thickened. Sepals 4-5 mm long. Petals 7-9 (-10) mm long, 2-4 mm broad. Stamens 4-5: 5-6 mm long. Siliquae 50-100 mm long, 1 (-1.5) mm broad, straight, erect or ascending, linear-subcylindrical, usually slightly hairy when young but glabrous when mature; style 1-2 (-3) mm long, thickened with coronate sub-bilobed stigma; septum rigid; seeds 40-50 in each locule, c. 1 mm long, ellipsoid.

Herbs annual, (10-)20-70(-85) cm tall. Stems erect, branched above, sparsely to densely soft pubescent at least near base, usually glabrous above. Basal leaves rosulate; petiole (1-)2-5(-9) cm; leaf blade broadly oblanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate in outline, runcinate-pinnatipartite, 3-8(-10) × (1-)2-4(-6) cm; lateral lobes 2-5 on each side of midvein, much smaller than terminal one, oblong or lanceolate, subentire or dentate; terminal lobe lanceolate or deltoid, often hastate. Uppermost cauline leaves with narrowly lanceolate or linear, often hastate terminal lobe and 1 or 2 lateral lobes. Fruiting pedicels ascending to subdivaricate, stout and nearly as thick as fruit, (2-)3-6 mm. Sepals oblong, ascending, 3.5-5.5 × 1-2 mm. Petals pale yellow, spatulate, (6-)7-9(-10) × 2.5-4 mm; claw subequaling sepals. Filaments yellowish, erect, (4-)5-8 mm; anthers oblong, 1-1.8 mm. Ovules (60-)80-100(-140) per ovary. Fruit narrowly linear, stout, terete, (5-)6-10(-13) cm × 1-1.5 mm, straight; valves glabrous or pubescent, smooth; style subclavate, 1-3(-4) mm; stigma prominently 2-lobed; septum slightly thickened. Seeds oblong, 1-1.5 × 0.7-0.9 mm, inserted in depressions of septum. Fl. Apr-Jul, fr. May-Aug. 2n = 14.

Distribution: Europe, C and S.W. Asia, Pakistan and Kashmir.

Fl. Per. : April-June.

Waste grounds, roadsides, disturbed sites. Fujian, Shanxi [India, Japan, Kashmir, Pakistan, Russia; SW Asia, Europe; introduced elsewhere].

Sisymbrium fujianense L. K. Ling.