Kingdom Plantae Family Brassicaceae Scientific name Guillenia flavescens Rank Species | Order Brassicales Genus Guillenia Higher classification Guillenia | |
Similar Glycyrrhiza echinata, Two‑spotted goby, Grewia, Gobius | ||
Guillenia flavescens is a species of mustard plant known by the common name yellow mustard, but it is not the only species known by that name. Sinapis alba is probably the plant more widely known as yellow mustard. G. flavescens is a thin-stemmed annual herb growing large, lobed or toothed leaves up to 22 centimeters long around its base, and smaller, less toothed leaves along its gray-pink to brown stem. At intervals along the upper stem appear cream, yellowish, or very pale purple flowers, each somewhat cuboid in shape and about a centimeter long. The tips of the petals around the mouth are curled, flared, or clawlike. The fruit is a thin silique up to 9 centimeters long. This species is endemic to California, where it grows in the valleys and mountains surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area.