Scientific Family
Brassicaceae
Synonyms
Sisymbrium sophia, Sophia sophia
Other common names
flixweed tansymustard
fluxweed
herb-sophia
flaxweed tansymustard
pinnate tansymustard
tansymustard
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Introduced
Lifecycle
Biennial or annual
Height
To 30 inches
Riparian
No
Erect winter annual, often distally branched; 2 to 3 times pinnately compound feathery leaves; small yellow flowers; narrow seed pods 1/2 to 1-1/4 inches long.
Stems are 10 to 30 inches tall, branched with star-shaped hairs. Leaves 2 to 3 times pinnate, up to 4 inches long. Sepals 3/4 inch long. Petals about as long as sepals. Seed pods 1/2 to 1-1/4 inches long. Seeds in 1 row in each chamber of the fruit.
Habitat
Found on open and disturbed ground.
Plant Community
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
3000
High elevation
7500
Flower Characteristics
Small petaled yellow flowers are clustered along side branches of the main stem; bracts 4, yellowish green and narrow; petals 4 yellow, small, spatula-shaped, slightly recurved; stamens 6.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
June
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Green, 2 to 3 times pinnately divided, appearance is fern-like. The first stage of the plant is a basal rosette of leaves followed by flower stems.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Dissected
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Long, narrow seed pod contains one row of 10 to 20 seeds in each chamber.
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit color
Green to brown
Tiny, reddish-brown seeds become sticky when moistened.