Species Description
The left image is a close up of the mustard flowers and heart shaped leaves.
On the right is a garlic mustard plant in full bloom.
On the right is a garlic mustard plant in full bloom.
Details
Garlic mustard is a flowering plant that is indigenous to Europe, western and central Asia and, northwestern Africa. It flowers during its second year of growth once it is fully matured. The plant will die off after it has released its seeds during its second year of growth, making it a biennial plant. A flowering stalk is produced once fully matured and flowers will grow in the spring. Each flower has four white petals. The leaves change shape as it matures becoming more triangular over time. During the first year, the leaves are wrinkled and appear in clumps. Whenever any part of the plant is crushed, a garlic odor is emitted. Its seeds are black and shiny and are made in skinny green pods which turn brown when fully matured. Once the seeds are going to be released, the pods break open, and the seeds are spread around on the ground. The plant can grow up to 40 inches tall at most. It will either cross-pollinate or self-pollinate depending on the conditions. Garlic mustard is a hardy plant and is able to adapt to many environments.
The plant grows from a thin white taproot that smells like horseradish. The leaves are heart shaped and have large teeth along the edges. Sometimes chopped leaves can be used in salads, and the flowers and fruit are also used on occasion, which provides a flavor of both garlic and mustard. The seeds are rarely used for seasoning. The plant used to be used for a disinfectant and was also used to heal wounds.
The plant grows from a thin white taproot that smells like horseradish. The leaves are heart shaped and have large teeth along the edges. Sometimes chopped leaves can be used in salads, and the flowers and fruit are also used on occasion, which provides a flavor of both garlic and mustard. The seeds are rarely used for seasoning. The plant used to be used for a disinfectant and was also used to heal wounds.
Taxonomic Classification
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Plante
Division: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
(Unranked): Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Alliaria
Species: Petiolata
Kingdom: Plante
Division: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
(Unranked): Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Alliaria
Species: Petiolata
Sources
Information: Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliaria_petiolata, Invasive.org; http://www.invasive.org/browse/subinfo.cfm?sub=3005, Brickfields Park; http://www.brickfieldspark.org/data/garlicmustard.htm
Pictures: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliaria_petiolata
Pictures: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliaria_petiolata