Hirschfeldia incana (L.) Lagr.-Foss.

Annual to perennial. Hairs stiff, simple, recurved. Stem ± stout, often much-branched, densely hairy below, becoming glabrous above, 30–70–(100) cm tall. Lvs all densely hairy, petiolate. Rosette lvs crowded, 4–10–(30) × 1.5–3–(6) cm; terminal leaflet ovate to oblong, rarely ± triangular, often with 1–2 rounded lobes at base; lateral lobes oblong to triangular, ± auriculate at base; margins irregularly bluntly serrate to crenate. Stem lvs few, smaller than rosette lvs and with fewer leaflets, bluntly serrate, the uppermost simple, narrow-oblanceolate. Racemes many, obliquely spreading, 30–50 cm tall. Pedicels erect, swollen and narrowly clavate at fruiting, 4–8 mm long. Sepals 2–3 × 0.5–1 mm, oblanceolate. Petals pale yellow, often with dark veins; claw narrow, c. (⅓) as long as limb. Silique glabrous, erect, 6–10 × 1–2 mm; valves 4–6 mm long, 3-veined when immature but veins obscure when mature; beak swollen, 2–4 mm long, (0)–1–(2)-seeded. Seeds c. 1 mm long, (1)–3–5 per locule.

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

Flowering: Dec.–Jun.; Fruiting: Dec.–Jun.