Stem

  • Up to 3 ft. tall and branched; upper stem lacks hair (glabrous); lower stem covered with stiff, downward-pointing hairs.
African Mustard
Closeup of the central stem

Leaves

  • Rosette leaves up to 12 in. long and pinnate-divided with 6-14 pairs of leaflets; edges (margins) are toothed.
  • Stems have very few leaves; typically small and oval to strap-like (linear) with toothed to lobed edges.
African Mustard
First leave of a sprouting plant

Flower

  • Small (less than 0.6 in. wide) and yellow with four petals.
  • Seed pods are round, slender and 1.5-2.5 in. long; the end tapers to a point; contain numerous round seeds; pod constricts around seeds (appears beaded).
African Mustard leaves
Closeup of the inflorescences

Root

  • Deep, slender taproot
 

Other

  • Grows best in sites with dry, sandy soils and sparse vegetation; often infests roadsides, waste areas, washes and desert areas; known to occur in Clark, Lincoln and Nye counties.
  • Annual; reproduces by seed
  • Also known as Sahara mustard
African Mustard
Adult plant

Control

  • Repeated hand-removal can be effective; disturbances such as fire, tillage and grazing often promote mustard growth.
  • Apply 2,4-D, glyphosate or triclopyr post-emergence; chlorsulfuron or imazapic pre- or post emergence.
Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., H. Kratsch, Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – African mustard, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide

If you need more information.

Please contact Extension's Communication Team for assistance.

 

Also of Interest:

 
African mustard plant
Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – African mustard
African mustard is a noxious weed that has been identified by the state of Nevada to be harmful to agriculture, the general public, or the environment. Learn more about this weed.
 Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., H. Kratsch, Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide