Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_3903.JPG-06-11-2020
Flower name (scientific): Erysimum cheiranthoides Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) er-RIS-ih-mum kair-anth-OY-dees
Flower name (common): Wormseed Mustard
Family name (common): Mustard
Family name (scientific): Brassicacea
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: A name used by Theophrastus for wallflowers. Also, for the medicinal value of some species.
    Specific epithet: Resembling cheiranthus, a wallflower, e.g. Cheiranthus cheiri and Cheiranthus allionii.
Common name origin: Wormseed was a name used for plants that had medicinal benefit to kill parasitic worms, in particular, intestinal worms. Mustard is commonly used to refer to the crushed seeds of certain plants employed in cookery. The name is also used for a poultice prepared from the seeds.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (5 to 8 mm)
     Petal count: 4
     Color: yellow
     Other: flower arrangement, Raceme
Plant description:
     Size: 8 to 40 inches (20 to 102 cm)
     Stem hairy: moderately covered in short hairs.
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple
     Size: Cauline leaves up to about 10 cm long and about 2 cm wide.
     Color: medium green
     Hairy: Trichomes typically 3 or 4 rayed (minute star-shaaped hair-like growths).
     Other: Shape: leaf, lanceolate, linear, or elliptic-oblong (FNA), narrowly lanceolate, oblanceolate, or elliptic-oblong (IL)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon
Bloom time (typical): June to August
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual
Habitat: Disturbed sites, roadsides, fields, wet to moist, semi shade to sun.
Fruit: linear pods typically about 1.5 to 2.5 cm in length.
Seed: yellowish-brown in color, about 1 to 1.5 mm in length.
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): There are similar Erysimum species. Flower size can help distinguish different species: E. cheiranthoides has a flower size of about 0.2 to 0.3 inches. E. hieraciifolium (European Wallflower, Wormseed Mustard) is reported from only a few mostly southern counties in Wisconsin and not reported from any other midwestern states, has a flower size around 0.5 to 0.8 inches. E. capitatum (Sand-dune Wallflower) typically has orange colored flowers and is reported from only a few scattered counties in Wisconsin, has a flower size of about 1.2 to 2.2 inches. E. inconspicuum (Small-flowered Wallflower) has a flower size of 0.5 to 0.75 inches. E. asperum (Western Wallflower) is not reported present in Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, and Missouri, and reaches its most eastern distribution in Illinois, and has a flower size of about 0.75 inches. E. repandum (Bushy Wallflower) is not reported in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Dakotas, but present in the rest of the neighboring states, it has a flower size of about 0.5 to 0.6 inches. Differences in leaf shape can also aid in differentiating these species.
Ethnobotany: The Chippewa used the roots to prepare a remedy for skin eruptions (Densmore, p. 350, 1928).
Latitude: 44.798180
Longitude: -91.512903
Altitude: 244.40
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 2 homotypic synonyms for this species.
Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 31 heterotypic synonyms for this species.
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): FACU
Wetland Status (MW): FACU