Erucastrum gallicum

Dog Mustard

South of Togo
23-June-2000

The following points are from keys in Budd's Flora (BF) and Flora of Alberta (FOA).  Some of the answers appear to conflict with each other. I have noted these by placing the abbreviation of the flora they are from at the end of the point.

Erucastrum:  Answers to key questions leading to this genus

petals yellow

petals less than 7 mm long

fruit pod-like (silique or silicle), dehiscent by two valves

pods not compressed at right angles to the central partition

pod more than 4 times as long as broad 

pods circular in cross section, not flattened (BF)

pods 4-angled, not terete (FOA)

pod valves sharply 1-nerved

pod with a short slender beak or beakless (FOA)

pods with a long, distinct beak (BF)

beak joint of capsule containing a seed

beak of pod and the body equal in cross section; not having beak flattened and body almost round

pods opening by valves, not constricted between seeds

 

Cruciferae: Answers to key questions leading to this family

plants with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the other

corolla regular

4 petals

calyx regular

4 sepals