Thlaspi arvense

Thlaspi arvense L. - is a foetid, hairless annual plant, growing up to 60 cm (24 in) tall, with upright branches. The stem leaves are arrow-shaped, narrow and toothed. It blooms between May and July, with racemes or spikes of small white flowers that have 4 sepals and 4 longer petals. Later it has round, flat, winged pods with a deep apical notch, measuring 1–1 cm (0.39–0.39 in)across. They contain small brown-black seeds.The common name 'pennycress' is derived from the shape of the seeds looking like an old English penny. Other English common names are: stinkweed, bastard cress, fanweed, field pennycress, frenchweed and mithridate mustard. It belongs to the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Pennycress is an annual, overwintering herb with an unpleasant odor when its leaves are squeezed. It grows up to 40 to 80 cm depending on environmental conditions. White, lavender or pink flowers with four petals develop between five and eight seeds per plant. Numbers of chromosomes is 2x. Pennycress, has flat and circular notched pods and is a common weed throughout much of North America and its native Eurasia. Its seeds have a high oil content and the species has gained interest as a potential feedstock for biofuel production.

Thlaspi Arvense

Thlaspi arvense

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