Mustard Family
Members of the mustard family (Brassicaceae) are herbaceous biennials and perennials or annuals with alternate stem leaves and basal rosettes of leaves. Flowers are four-parted and arranged in terminal clusters. Fruits are two-parted with rows of seeds divided by a thin septum.
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Look Alikes
While four-parted flowers and two-parted fruits are characteristics of the mustard family, other species share these characteristics, including greater celandine (Chelidonium majus), a member of the poppy family. It differs in having yellow sap; it is covered in the Alternate Leaved Forbs.
Individual species may have look-alikes, which can be differentiated based on characteristics like leaf shape and size, bloom time, and flower color.
Resource Table
| Classification | Common Name | Other Common Names | Scientific Name | Resources | Videos | Weed ID slides ppt (AGR 375) | National Distribution Map | Look-Alike Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted | Dame's rocket | Hesperis matronalis | UWEX Factsheet Link | Video | Hesperis matronalis | National Map | ||
| Restricted | Garlic mustard | Alliaria petiolata | UWEX Factsheet Link | Video | Alliaria petiolata | National Map | ||
| Prohibited/Restricted | Hill mustard | Bunias orientalis | UWEX Factsheet | Video | Bunias orientalis | National Map | ||
| Prohibited | Narrow leaf bittercress | Cardamine impatiens | Link | Cardamine impatiens | National Map | |||
| Prohibited | Perennial pepperweed | Broadleaved pepperweed | Lepidium latifolium | UWEX Factsheet Link | Video | Lepidium latifolium | National Map |
Species Summary Table
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Leaves | Flowers | Fruits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliaria petiolata | Garlic mustard | Kidney-shaped basal leaves, more triangular up the stem; scalloped edges; smell like garlic | Cluster of small (1/3”) white flowers; May - June | Slender seed pods, up to 2” long |
| Bunias orientalis | Hill mustard | Highly lobed, lance-shaped leaves similar to dandelions; smaller up stem; sometimes warty | Dense clusters of yellow, fragrant 2” flowers; May - June | Oval-shaped pods covered with warty bumps |
| Cardamine impatiens | Narrow leaf bittercress | Basal leaves compound with 3-11 lobed leaflets; stem leaves compound with 13+ lance- shaped leaflets | ½” rounded clusters of tiny white to green flowers; May – July | Slender seed pod, up to 1” long |
| Hesperis matronalis | Dame’s rocket | Densely hairy toothed leaves, round at base and tapering to pointed tip | Clusters of flowers ¾ - 1”, ranging from white to pink to purple; May - July | Slender seed pod up to 4” long |
| Lepidium latifolium | Perennial pepperweed | Basal leaves up to 12” with serrated edges; stem leaves waxy, gray-green, 1-2” wide | Dense clusters of small, white flowers; late spring | Oval, hairy capsule, 0.1” |