|
Chorispora tenella
(Purple Mustard) Brassicaceae (Mustard Family) Semi-deserts, foothills. Fields, woodlands,
openings.
Spring. Chorispora tenella is an Asian invasive species that has found a new home it really likes. In early spring, fallow farm fields and even wilderness areas are often carpeted in the soft purples of Chorispora tenella. The glow lasts for many weeks as the plant grows taller and new flowers emerge. A myriad of flowers is followed, unfortunately, by more than a myriad of seeds encased in seed pods about one-and-a-half inches long and upward curved. I call Chorispora tenella the "Crayola Plant" because warm sunshine brings out its very curious odor of melting crayons! The Greek "Chori", "separate", and " spora", "seed", refers to the constricted seed shape. "Tenella" means slender and could refer to the overall plant or flower or seed shape, all of which are slender. The plant was named Raphanus tenellus in 1776 by Peter von Pallas (1741-1811) from Eurasian specimens and was renamed Chorispora tenella in 1821 by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (1778-1841). |
|
|
Chorispora tenella
(Purple Mustard) Brassicaceae (Mustard Family) Semi-deserts, foothills. Fields, woodlands,
openings.
Spring. See Malcomia africana for a similar species. |
