Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Plants from the Mustard family have a bad name in North America because of a handful of aliens that have become serious pests. Just today I was noticing hundreds of acres around the county in farm fields and roadsides infested with Yellow Mustard. Garlic Mustard has invaded woodlands and crowds out all other vegetation.

But we do have a few interesting native plants form the Mustard family. These are all woodland plants and very early bloomers, before the trees leaf out.

This first one is the most common, Cutleaf Toothwort Cardamine concatenata, or "Cutthroat Toothache" as my niece calls it. "Wort" by the way is an old English word meaning "plant," and the name "toothwort" comes from the tooth-shaped root of these plants.

Mike

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Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

This is the Broadleaf Toothwort. It is a woodland plant that blooms a little later than the previous plant.

Mike

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BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

I think your shoes know more about Michigans plants than I do! Lol!
These are all very well done shots! Beautifull!

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Here are a few more.

1. This is an extraordinary clump of Spring Cress, Cardamine bulbosa.

2. Purple Cress Cardamine douglassii, usually found in wetter areas in the woods.

3. I completely blew this opportunity. There was a lot of the common Cutleaf Toothwort in the area I was hiking, a couple hundred miles from home, and when I saw this chance to get a False Rue Anemone blossom in the same frame with (what I assumed were) Cutleaf Toothwort blossoms, I concentrated on that and didn't look very closely at the plant. It wasn't until I got home and was looking at the images from the trip that I noticed that this plant is the extremely rare Dissected Toothwort Cardamine dissecta. I would have devoted more time to it had I recognized it for what it is.

Mike

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Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

:lol:

Thanks. These were taken down in Berrien, Van Buren and Allegan counties a couple of weeks ago.

Mike

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Very beautiful post Mike! And very interesting things I didn't know. Would you mind if I used your shots in my plant journal? I am making it about wild flows and trees. Just something for me to play with.:)

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

All of your photos in this post are really beautiful and well done. However, even better is the fact that you took the time to elaborate on these plants. It is interesting and enjoyable!

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

:thumbup: Is the condiment "mustard" made from these plants?

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Another day in the wild with Mike. No need for a wildflower guide, he's got these down pat. Very beautiful renditions of these small blossoms Sir. I appreciate you taking us with you.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Yes, prepared mustard comes from related Old World plants in another genus.

The key ingredient in prepared mustards is ground seeds from mustard plants. The types of mustards and the plants they are from include the annual, Black Mustard Brassica nigra, which has been cultivated in Asia and the Mediterranean for thousands of years and extensively used in Indian cooking. It colonizes disturbed areas in North America but does not invade natural areas to any significant degree.

White Mustard Brassica alba is also an annual thought to originate in the Mediterranean and is cultivated around the world. It's seed has a milder flavor than Black Mustard and was traditionally used in pickling. It is a highly invasive species in North America, and is particularly a problem in California.

Brown Mustard Brassica juncea seed is an important source of cooking oil in Asia and Russia, and this is the plant grown for "mustard greens" used in cuisines around the world. Also invasive, it is a problem in Michigan and Florida so far, and also listed as invasive by the state of Alaska. It is spreading fast in the plains states, the Rockies, and in southern California. I pull a lot of it from our yard, but I can't convince my wife that we could be adding it to salads. :)

Mike

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Thanks, Erv. No problem, thanks for asking. PM me if you need anything in particular.

Mike

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Thanks very much, Bob.

Mike

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Glad you enjoyed this, Carol. Thanks.

Mike

HOT Texas Loc: From the Heart of Texas

Great stuff Mike!!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

I had no idea that the mustard family was such a large one. Your posts are always beautiful as well as educational, Mike, a double pleasure to view. I had a question about mustard greens, but I see you've already answered it. Mustard greens are delicious..cooked and uncooked, but they're a little pungent uncooked.