About Erucastrum gallicum (Willd.) O.E.Schulz
Erucastrum gallicum (Willd.) O.E.Schulz is an annual or biennial plant in the Brassicaceae family, with the common names hairy rocket and common dogmustard. It is a low-growing species that typically has an erect growth habit, or sometimes grows with ascending tops, and produces bright yellow flowers. Its blooming period runs from late spring, through summer, and into early autumn. As the plant blooms, its stems extend upward; once blooming is complete, the plant measures 30 to 60 centimeters long. This species is native to Eurasia, but it has been introduced to many regions across the globe, including most of North America. Between 1976 and 1981, a population of Erucastrum gallicum was studied in a limestone quarry near Syracuse, New York. In this study, cohorts of seedlings that germinated in the spring showed noticeably different survivorship patterns (Types I, II, and III were all observed) that correlated with the prevailing weather conditions of the period.
