Leaves oval-shaped, simple, stemmed; basal leaves wilting early, flowers along elongated stems, bisexual with 4 free sepals and 4 yellow petals, along with 2 longer and 2 shorter stamens.
Erect; upper leaves smaller, mostly short-stalked to stalkless, not clasping; yellow flowers, 4-parted; fruit pedicels are long, spreading, seed capsules not lying flat against the stem.
Habitat
Roadsides, disturbed areas, waste places, cultivated and abandoned fields.
Flower Characteristics
Rounded clusters of stemmed pale yellow flowers along elongated stems, to 3/4 inch wide; 4 petals; 6 stamens.
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems slightly hairy; lower dissected leaves larger and stalked, 4 to 8 inches long, toothed. Alternate upper leaves stalkless or nearly so, not clasping, smaller than lower leaves, lance-shaped to narrow, mostly not toothed.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Long, narrow capsules (siliques) split open when mature; ascending, 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches long, roundish in cross-section, with a beak.
Seeds 1/16 inch long, conspicuously not veined. Not gelatinous.