Field penny-cress

Thlaspi arvense, commonly known as field pennycress or stinkweed, is an annual or winter annual plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family. Here's a detailed description:

Botanical Description:

Habit:
- Field pennycress is an annual or winter annual herbaceous plant.
Height:
- It typically grows to a height of about 30 to 60 centimeters (12 to 24 inches).
Leaves:
- The leaves are alternate, spatulate or oblanceolate, and have a toothed or lobed margin.
Stems:
- The stems are erect and branched, with a glaucous (bluish-gray) appearance.
Flowers:
- The flowers are small and have four white petals. They are arranged in a raceme, a type of elongated flower cluster.
Inflorescence:
- The inflorescence is a raceme, with flowers blooming in a sequence along the stem.
Fruit:
- The fruit is a flattened, disc-shaped silicle that resembles a coin, giving rise to the common name "pennycress."

Identification Tips:

White Flowers:
- The small flowers have four white petals.
Alternate Leaves:
- Leaves are arranged alternately along the stem.
Raceme Inflorescence:
- Flowers are arranged in a raceme, elongated cluster.
Flattened Silicle:
- The fruit is a distinctive, flattened silicle resembling a coin.

Habitat:

Distribution:
- Field pennycress is found in various regions, and it has a widespread distribution.
Habitat:
- It thrives in disturbed habitats, including fields, roadsides, and fallow areas.

Uses:

Cover Crop:
- Field pennycress is being explored as a cover crop to protect and improve soil health during the winter months.
Oilseed Crop:
- Some research is being conducted on using field pennycress as an oilseed crop for biofuel production.

Management:

Cultural Practices:
- When used as a cover crop, field pennycress is managed in a way that maximizes its benefits for soil improvement.
Harvesting for Seed:
- In the context of research on biofuel production, field pennycress may be harvested for its oil-rich seeds.