Descurainia sophia (L.) Prantl

Annual herb. Rosette short-lived or 0. Stem sometimes purplish, erect, stellate-hairy, to 1 m tall. All lvs ± densely stellate-hairy, 2–3-pinnatisect, glaucous, 2–7 × 1–3 cm; lobes linear or narrowly oblong. Racemes erect or suberect, sparsely hairy or glabrous, 10–30–(40) cm tall. Pedicels slender, c. 5 mm long at flowering, lengthening to 1–(2) cm and spreading at fruiting. Sepals c. 2 mm long, clothed in stellate hairs. Petals pale yellow, 1–1.5 mm long. Anthers 0.2–0.3 mm long; filaments slightly > sepals. Silique ± erect, glabrous, often curved upwards making an angle with the pedicel, (10)–15–20 × c. 1 mm, slightly torulose; median vein distinct. Seeds oblong, brown, c. 1 mm long, in 1 row per locule.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Nov.–Feb.; Fruiting: Nov.–Feb.