Erysimum inconspicuum (Small-flowered Wallflower)

Plant Info
Also known as:
Genus:Erysimum
Family:Brassicaceae (Mustard)
Life cycle:biennial, short-lived perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, sun; dry prairies, railroads, roadsides, river banks, woodland edges
Bloom season:May - August
Plant height:6 to 30 inches
Wetland Indicator Status:none
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map
National distribution (click map to enlarge):National distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: 4-petals Cluster type: raceme

[photo of flowers] Elongating clusters of stalked flowers at the ends of stems arising from leaf axils in the upper plant and at the top of the stem. Flowers are yellow, about 1/8 inch across with 4 rounded petals and 6 stamens.

Leaves and stems: Leaf attachment: alternate Leaf attachment: basal Leaf type: simple

[photo of lower leaves] Leaves are up to 2½ inches long and to 1/3 inch wide, linear or widest above the middle, pointed at the tip, toothless or with a few widely spaced teeth. Basal leaves, which wither away by flowering time, gradually taper at the base. Upper leaves are stalkless.

[photo of stem and upper leaves] Leaf surfaces and stems are covered in appressed, star-shaped hairs that can give a gray-green appearance. Stems are weakly angled, may be multiple from the base and are usually unbranched.

Fruit: Fruit type: capsule/pod

[photo of fruit] Fruit is a slender, straight pod up to 2 inches long that is ascending to spreading.

Notes:

Small-flowered Wallflower is distinguished from other yellow mustards that do not have lobed or divided leaves by its tiny flowers, very narrow leaves, and appressed hairs.

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More photos

Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken at Iron Horse Prairie SNA, Dodge County.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: S. Kimber - Old Mill State Park, Marshall County
on: 2024-08-13 20:44:29

The poor little thing! Has no one else reported it? I saw a fine specimen at peak bloom on July 8 on the Agassiz trail at the edge of the prairie. I was thinking it might be an errant canola plant or some sort of non-native mustard, but based on this site's photos and descriptions of the flower and leaf structure, and on other online photos, I don't have much doubt of the ID. It was small-flowered, inconspicuous, and rather precious, I thought.

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