Field pennycress

Images

Click on image to view full size

Field pennycress leaves

Field pennycress

Field pennycress fruit

Field pennycress

Field pennycress fruit

Field pennycress leaves

Field pennycress

Field pennycress

Field pennycress flowers

Field pennycress leaves

Field pennycress inflorescence

Field pennycress fruit

Morphology

Stem

Erect, solitary or several, branching above, glabrous.

Leaves

Alternate, simple; basal leaves spatulate to oblanceolate, 1 to 4 inches long, tips rounded, margins irregularly toothed or entire; stem leaves oblong-elliptic to lanceolate, 1/2 to 3 inches long, sessile, tips pointed to rounded, margins coarsely toothed.

Inflorescence

Raceme, multi-flowered, terminal, elongates with maturity.

Flower

Numerous, small, short-stalked; sepals 4, egg-shaped, less than 1/10 inch long, greenish-white, sometimes lightly pubescent, tips blunt or pointed; petals 4, spoon-shaped, white, 1/12 to 1/6 inch long; stamens 6, nearly equal.

Fruit

Pod, compressed, oval to nearly circular, 2/5 to 3/4 inch long, tip notched, valves 2, each with 2-8 seeds; stalk 1/4 to 3/5 inch long; seeds oval, somewhat flattened, purple or black.

Ecology

Habitat

Open waste areas, roadsides, grain fields, and gardens.

Distribution

Throughout Kansas, but rare in southwest corner.

Practical Information

Toxicity

Pennycress has been known to cause poisoning in livestock. Signs of poisoning are digestive disturbance, bloody diarrhea, and photosensitization.

Additional Notes