Tower Mustard

(Arabis glabra)

 

Color Photograph: Wikipedia Commons, GNU Free Documentation License, Photographer Unknown

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Tower Mustard (Arabis glabra)

Identification: Flowers small, cream-colored, not white. Seed pods elongate, clustered close to the stem and pointing upward. Leaves and stem gray-green and waxy in appearance. Basal leaves elongate, coarsely toothed, hairy, and withering early. Other leaves spear-shaped, base divided into two projections and clasping the stem. Plant 1 to 3 feet in height.

Distribution: Southeastern Canada, the northeastern and mid-Atlantic States extending southward in the mountains. Also occurs throughout most of western and central North America.

Habitat: Tower Mustard is a species of ledges, rock walls, sandy soil, and other dry habitats.

Flowering period: May to July.

Tower Mustard (Arabis glabra)

Similar Species:

 The gray-green, waxy coloration, the tightly grouped and upright seed pods, and the spear-shaped, clasping leaves are usually sufficient to identify Tower Mustard.

Similar Species

No Similar Species