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. 2016Footnote 1).
Worldwide: Native to eastern Europe and temperate Asia and introduced in North America, western and northern Europe and Japan (USDA-ARS 2016Footnote 2). In the United States, found in many states except for some in the south (USDA-NRCS 2016Footnote 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 1993Footnote 4, FNA 1993+Footnote 5, Darbyshire 2003Footnote 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. 2009Footnote 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
