Myagrum perfoliatum

L. Musk Weed

Sp. Pl.: 640 (1753)

Taxonomic status Accepted

Occurrence status Present

Origin Introduced

Degree of establishment Naturalised

Plant erect, 15–100 cm high, glaucous. Basal leaves petiolate, oblanceolate, sagittate, pinnately lobed to scalloped or toothed; stem leaves sessile, oblong-lanceolate, stem-clasping, minutely toothed to entire. Inflorescence an elongating raceme. Sepals c. 3 mm long; petals 3–5 mm long, yellow. Fruit club-shaped, 6–8 mm long, c. 5 mm wide; upper portion (the 'shoulders') 2-locular, empty; lower portion unilocular; surface ridged and slightly warty; pedicels appressed, 2–4 mm long, stout. Flowers spring.

Wim, VVP, VRiv, CVU. Also naturalised SA, Qld, NSW. Probably native to southern Europe. Infesting large areas of Wimmera early this century but less common today.

The club-shaped fruits with rounded 'shoulders' are distinctive.

Source:

Entwisle, T.J. (1996). Brassicaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., ‍Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae‍, pp. 399–459. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Updated by: Val Stajsic, 26 Sep. 2018