General: London Rocket Mustard (Sisymbrium irio) is an annual forb with basal leaves, several flowering stalks, and tiny, yellow, 4-petaled flowers. The basal leaves are dissected with 6-14 pairs of lateral lobes, and the terminal lobe is about the size of lateral lobes. New seed pods overtop new flowers. The plant dies after it flowers, leaving open, upright stalks that are highly flammable.
London Rocket Mustard is an uncommon component of disturbed desert vegetation communities. Around Las Vegas, look for this species in town and in disturbed roadsides and open fields. This is a fairly recent addition to our local flora. The name "rocket' is appropriate because it grows and spreads rapidly.
Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae).
Other Names: Desert Mustard
Plant Form: Plants remain as rosettes until they develop flowering stems at maturity. Basal leaves with upright, leafy flower stalks. |