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

Learn more about the author(s)

Heidi Kratsch
Heidi Kratsch
 

Also of Interest:

 
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A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Blue Mustard
This fact sheet contains information on ways to identify and manage blue mustard. Learn interesting facts about the plant and the control methods to manage the plant.
 Donaldson, S. and Hanson Mazet, W. 2011, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-61
Tumble Mustard
A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Tumble Mustard
Guide to identifying and managing Tumble mustard, a bushy, much-branched plant that grows up to 5 feet tall.
 Donaldson, S., Hanson Mazet, W. 2010, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno FS-10-32
 

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