Rhodora 
JOURNAL OF 
THE NEW ENGLAND BOTANICAL CLUB 
Vol. 7 June, 1905 No. 78 
TWO VARIETIES OF SISYMBRIUM OFFICINALE IN 
AMERICA. 
B, L. ROBINSON. 
Mr. J. C. PARLIN has recently sent to the Gray Herbarium some 
specimens of the hedge-mustard, Sisymbrium officinale, Scop., calling 
attention to a striking difference in their color and pubescence. Mr. 
Fernald and I have examined these plants, as well as the available 
literature regarding the species, and find that there are in America, 
as well as in the Old World, two markedly different forms of Sisym- 
brium officinale, which were clearly recognized by the eldest DeCan- 
dolle, although for the most part undistinguished by subsequent 
authors. These are: — 
S. OFFICINALE, Scop. Rather copiously pubescent on stem and 
leaves; the inflorescence and pods even at full maturity subtomentu- 
lose: whole plant grayish or bluish green. — Fl. Carn. ed 2, ii. 26 
(1772) ; DC. Syst. ii. 459 (where extensive early synonymy is given) ; 
Reichenb. Ic. Fl. Germ. ii. t. 72 (1838); Fournier, Fam. des Crucif. 
83 (1865); Ett. & Pok. Phys. Pl. Aust. ix. t. 857 (1873); Sowerb. 
Eng. Bot. ed. 3, 143, t. 94 (1873) ; Rusby, Mem. Torr. Bot. Club, 
iii. pt. 3, p. 5 (1893); Rouy & Foucaud, Fl. de Fr. ii. 19 (1895). 
Erysimum officinale, L. Sp. Pl. ii. 660 (1753). Brassica adpressa, 
Parish, Zoe, i. 57 (1890); Robinson, Syn. Fl. i. pt. 1, 134 (1895); 
not Boiss. — Europe, common. In America as follows: — MAINE : 
waste ground, Brownville, 4 Aug. 1904, 7. C. Parlin, no. 1756. 
CALIFORNIA: Chico, May, 1878, Mrs. /. Bidwell; Elk Grove near 
Sacramento, 1884, Rev. J. C. Nevin, no. 926; streets of San Bernar- 
dino, April, 1886, S. B. Parish, no. 1772; a common weed, Berkley, 
24 June, 1892, 7. W. Blankinship, BoLtvia: Cochabamba, Bang, no, 
