Whitlow grass

Whitlow grass - Draba verna L.

Draba verna L.

Brassicaceae family (Mustard family) 

MI Status

Non-native                     

Life Cycle

Annual

Leaves

Leaves are arranged in a small rosette.  They are oblong, hairy, and smooth along the edges.  Leaves may have 1 or 2 teeth per side and are blunt to pointed at the tip.   

Stems

Flowering stems are leafless and terminate in a small raceme of flowers.  They are wiry, green to purplish, and unbranched.  There can be single or multiple stems emerging from the rosette. 

Flowers and fruit

Flowers consist of 4 white petals that are yellow at the base.  They are cleft half or more in length and give the appearance of 8 petals.  Flowers may be in clusters from 4 to 20.  Fruit is flattened, oblong, and hairless.  The seedpods taper to curved blunt tips.  The seedpods may contain up to 40 golden brown seeds. 

Reproduction

Seeds

More information and control options

 

Draba May2020 ECH
Whitlow grass
Draba whitlow grass April2019 (1)
Flowering whitlow grass next to a U.S. quarter for size comparison
Draba whitlow grass April2019 (3)
Whitlow grass flower
whitlow grass2
Whitlow grass rosette
whitlow grass1
Whitlow grass rosette

 

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  • msu plant & pest diagnostics,
  • weed,
  • winter annual

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