Sisymbrium orientale L., Cent. Pl. 2: 24. 1756. S. columnae Jacq., Fl. Austr. t. 323. 1776; Hook. f. & T. Anderson in Fl. Brit. India 1: 150. 1872, p. p.

Herbs, annual or biennial; stems stout, erect, branched, glabrous or hairy below, up to 75 cm high. Basal leaves in a rosette, runcinate or entire, usually 4 - 5-jugate; segments ovate-oblong to lanceolate, toothed; terminal lobe angled, oblong or lanceolate, often hastate. Racemes 15 - 20-flowered, ebracteate, up to 15 cm long in fruit; pedicels 4 - 7 mm long. Flowers ca 5 mm across, pale yellow. Sepals ca 5 x 1 mm, glabrous. Petals obovate, 5 - 8 mm long. Stamens ca 5 mm long. Fruits 7 - 10 cm long, spreading, very slender, curved, glabrous or hairy; valves not ribbed; style thickened, ca 2 mm long. Seeds 40 - 50 in each locule, ellipsoid or narrowly ovoid, yellowish brown.

Fl. & Fr. April - Aug.

Distrib. India: Wastelands in rock crevices, 2700 - 3200 m. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

S.W. & C. Asia, Africa and Europe.