- Isatis tinctoria is a biennial member of the mustard family that can grow from 1-4 ft. (0.3-1.2 m) tall.
- First years growth is represented by a rosette of hairy, bluish-green leaves 1.5-7 in. (3.7-18 cm) long. Stem leaves are lance-shaped and alternate with a cream colored mid-rib.
- Flat-topped yellow flowers with four spoon shaped petals appear in small clusters at the top of the stems. Flowering occurs in spring to late summer.
- Seed pods are black or purplish, flattened, 0.4 in. (0.9 cm) long, 0.25 in. (0.6 cm) wide and hang from short stalks at the ends of the stems.
- Ecological Threat
- Isatis tinctoria occurs in areas with poor, dry soils such as roadsides, rangelands and open forests. Isatis tinctoria is native to central Asia and northern Russia and was introduced to North America in the early 1900’s as a contaminant in alfalfa seed.
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EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Invasive List - This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list. For more information, visit Invasive.org
Invasive Listing Sources
- Arizona Noxious Weeds
- California Invasive Plant Council
- California Noxious Weeds
- Colorado Noxious Weeds
- Faith Campbell, 1998
- Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2005
- Montana Noxious Weeds
- Nevada Noxious Weeds
- New Mexico Noxious Weeds
- Oregon Noxious Weeds
- Pacific Northwest Exotic Pest Plant Council, 1998
- Utah Noxious Weeds
- Washington Noxious Weeds
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Wyoming Noxious Weeds
|Common Name Reference:|| USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.|
|Scientific Name Reference:||USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.|