HPIPM:Tumble mustard

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Superorder	Rosanae
Order	Brassicales
Family	Brassicaceae
Genus	Sisymbrium

Scientific Name

Sisymbrium altissimum

Scientific Name Synonyms

Norta altissima

Common Name

tumble mustard

Tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum)

Complied by Jane Mangold, Montana State University,

and Marjolein Schat, Montana State University from the following sources:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SIAL2

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/tumble_mustard.htm

Howard, Janet L. 2003. Sisymbrium altissimum. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/sisalt/all.html [2008, October].

Identification and Life Cycle

Tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum) is a non-native winter annual in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Other common names for tumble mustard include Jim Hill mustard and tall hedge-mustard. It is the tallest species in the genus, reaching 5 feet or more in height. Growth form is rounded and freely branching from a single basal stem. Leaves are 0.4 to 8 inches long, becoming smaller up the stem. The inflorescence is a raceme of perfect flowers. The fruit is a 2- to 4-incheslong, narrow silique with 120 or more small, wingless seeds. Tumble mustard has a thick taproot. Maximum root depth of plants in Wyoming averaged 17 inches over 2 years, ranging from 9 to 23 inches.

Habitats

Tumble mustard occurs in disturbed plant communities throughout most of the United States and Canada.

Impacts

Next to cheatgrass, tumble mustard is the second most invasive alien plant species in the Great Basin. Tumble mustard's success as an invasive weed is likely due to more effective seed dispersal compared to native herbaceous perennials, morphological plasticity in response to density stress (tumble mustard plants are short with shallow roots when crowded, but still produce numerous seeds), and earlier germination and more rapid seedling growth compared to native herbs.

Biology and Ecology

As an annual, tumble mustard reproduces solely from seed. Tumble mustard is a prolific seed producer. A single plant can produce up to 12,500 siliques and 1.5 million seeds. Seeds disperse when the dead, dried parent plant breaks at the stem base and tumbles or slides across the ground by wind or other movement. The fruits are tough and shatter slowly, so only a few seeds at a time are released. Consequently, the dried plant may disperse seeds throughout fall and winter, across many miles. Animals disperse seeds when the wet, mucilaginous seed coat sticks to feathers or fur. Machinery can pick up branches and whole plants, transporting seeds hundreds to thousands of miles. Tumble mustard builds up a long-term seed bank. Seed stored over 40 years has germinated in the laboratory. Tumble mustard seeds are immediately germinable at temperatures from 32 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, with no stratification requirement. Optimum germination occurs on fine-textured soils with temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Tumble mustard seedlings grow rapidly. In uncrowded stands, they form large rosettes before bolting. Emergence and establishment are enhanced by uneven microtopography, with tumble mustard establishing best in pits and furrows.

Management Approaches

Tumble mustard does not usually persist in late-seral communities and may not require special control measures. Canopy closure, litter accumulation and/or growth interference from later-successional species tend to exclude tumble mustard over time. Since tumble mustard is an early seral species, minimizing soil disturbance and seed dispersal and maintaining a healthy plant community is the best way to prevent establishment of tumble mustard.

Biological Control

There are no biological control agents available for tumble mustard.

Mechanical and Cultural Control

Small infestations of tumble mustard can be controlled by hand pulling rosettes in the fall or early spring.

Chemical Control

Herbicides are effective in gaining initial control of a new invasion or a severe infestation, but are rarely a complete or long-term solution to weed management.

For herbicide recommendations for specific grain rotations and weeds in Montana, please see the MSU Herbicide Chooser Tool. Consult herbicide labels for additional rate, application, and safety information. Additional herbicide information can be found at http://www.greenbook.net.

Due to constantly changing labels, laws and regulations, the sponsors of this web site assume no liability for the suggested use of any chemicals noted in the management section. Contact your local pest management personnel for current information on labeled pesticides that can be used for the intended plant disease, insect pest or weed.

References

For more information and images please visit IPM Bugwood. http://www.ipmimages.org/search/action.cfm?q=Sisymbrium%20altissimum&Start=1&results=16