Description
Key Characters:
Growth Form:
Plants hispid proximally, glabrous distally.
Stems:
Stems (1–)2–10(–15) dm.
Roots:
Leaves:
Leaves simple.
Alternate.
Basal leaves with 1–5 lobes each side, 2–25 cm, lateral lobe oblong or ovate, terminal lobe suborbicular or ovate, larger than lateral; cauline leaves blade simple or sinuately lobed.
Margins of basal leaves irregularly dentate; cauline leaves margins subentire or dentate.
Petioles of basal leaves 1–5 cm.
Stipules absent.
Flowers:
Flowers in racemes (corymbose, several-flowered), greatly elongated in fruit. fruiting pedicels erect [ascending], (usually appressed to rachis), slender to stout.
Flowers bisexual (perfect); fruiting pedicels erect, (appressed to rachis), 1.5–5 mm.
Calyx of 4 sepals; sepals 2.5–5 mm.
Corolla of 4 petals; petals pale yellow, 6–11 × 2.5–4 mm.
Stamens 6, tetradynamous; filaments not dilated basally; filaments 4–7 mm; anthers 1.2–1.5 mm.
Ovary superior; styles 1–3(–5) mm.
Fruit:
Fruits: valvular segment ellipsoid; 0.7–3 × 0.5–1.5 mm; terminal segment globose or ovoid; 1.5–3.5 × 1–2.8 mm; usually rugose or ribbed; rarely smooth.
Seeds 1.5–2.5 mm.
Ploidy:
2n = 16
Habitat:
Roadsides; disturbed sites; waste places; fields; grassy banks; ballast.
Elevation Range:
0–2000 m.