Tumble mustard, Tumbling mustard, Tall mustard
| Botanical Name | Sisymbrium altissimum |
| Common Name | Tumble mustard, Tumbling mustard, Tall mustard |
| Family | Brassicaceae - Mustard |
| Description | This weedy, annual or biennial plant branches in a maze of stems, producing numerous flowers and quickly goes to seed. The lower leaves are coarse and divided into broad lobes. The upper leaves are much reduced, finer with narrow lobes. It breaks off at the base and blows away in the wind to spread its seeds as it tumbles along. It’s a very common plant in our area. |
| Mature Size | 2’ – 5’ |
| Bloom | April – June many small, pale yellow, 4-petaled flowers appear in racemes. The seed pods are slender, rigid, ascending and 2” – 4” long. |
| Interesting Facts | This native of Europe is often considered an invasive weed. |
| Traditional and Medicinal Uses | Sisymbrium altissimum has been used as a somewhat hot-flavored potherb. One source of information, though, says the foliage has been found to be poisonous to livestock. So it would be wise to go slowly when eating the leaves in a food emergency. The leaves and flowers are antiscorbutic and have been used in treatment of scurvy. |
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Photo by Janice Tucker for SFBG
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Photo by Janice Tucker for SFBG
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