Hirschfeldia incana (L.) Lagr.-Foss.

Seedling

Cotyledons reniform, emarginate at the apex, small, 5-10 x 3-6 mm, with petiole as long as the blade. The primordial leaves are rosette-shaped, simple, obovate, sinuate-dentate, hairy and rough to the touch, with a long, bristly petiole. The hypocotyled axis is short and greenish. The plantlet is of a clear green.

Adult plant

Hirschfeldia incana is an annual plant sometimes vivacious with taproot, being able to reach 150 cm in height. Stem erect, very branched in the upper third, hispid, covered more or less densely with fine and long hairs, well leafy. Simple leaves, alternate. Radical leaves in a rapidly drying rosette, stalked prominently like those of the lower part of the stem which are lyrate, with a large terminal lobe and smaller lateral lobes toothed; upper leaves linear becoming sessile, the last ones entire and small. Inflorescence in very dense terminal clusters of 40-60 flowers, corymbiform at anthesis, and with short pedicels of 1-3 mm. Flowers small with 4 sepals of 5 mm, hairy a little in the shape of cap, exceeded of 1-4 mm by the 4 obovate pale yellow petals. Fruits are siliques borne on a short but equally thick stalk, applied to the inflorescence axis, circular in cross-section, slightly twisted, 1-1.75 cm x 1-1.5 mm (how many seeds per silique?) and with a 4-7 mm rostrum, usually containing 0-2 seeds and bulging below the apex. Seeds ovoid reddish or brown, 0.75 x 1 mm, smooth.

Seedling

Cotyledons kidney-shaped, indented at the apex, small, 5-10 x 3-6 mm, with a petiole as long as the blade. The first leaves are rosette-shaped, simple, obovate, sinuate-dentate, hairy and rough to the touch, with a long, bristly petiole. The hypocotyl axis is short and greenish. The seedling is light green.

Adult plant

Hirschfeldia incana is an annual plant, sometimes shortly perennial, with a taproot that can reach 150 cm in height. Stem erect, very branched in the upper third, hispid, covered more or less densely with fine, long hairs, well-leaved. Leaves simple, alternate. Basal leaves in a rapidly drying rosette, with a clearly visible petiole like those of the lyrate lower stem leaves, with a large terminal lobe and smaller, toothed lateral lobes; upper leaves linear becoming sessile, the last ones entire and small. Inflorescence in very dense terminal racem of 40-60 flowers, corymbiform at anthesis, with short pedicels of 1-3 mm. The flowers are small, with 4 slightly hooded, hairy sepals 5 mm long, which are overlapped by 4 pale yellow, obovate petals 1-4 mm long. The fruits are siliquas borne on a short pedicel that is as thick as the siliquas themselves, applied to the axis of the inflorescence, circular in cross-section, slightly twisted, measuring 1-1.75 cm x 1-1.5 mm and with a rostrum measuring 4-7 mm, generally containing 0-2 seeds and swollen under the apex. Seeds are ovoid, reddish or brown, 0.75 x 1 mm, smooth.

Origin

Hirschfeldia incana is native to the Mediterranean-Iranian-Turanic region.

Worldwide distribution

This species has been introduced in the western USA and in the temperate southern half of South America. It is also present in South Africa, South East Australia and New Zealand.

Algeria: Species rather common in all the country.

https://www.gbif.org/species/3050595