An Invasive Pest

This mustard is native to the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East and has now become an unwelcome weed of the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts and the desert valleys of Southern California. The plant grows quickly and crowds out the native flora by monopolizing moisture in the soil. When seeds start forming, as early as January, the plant self-fertilizes and deposits seeds in the sandy soil. Winter rains then moisten the seed coats and turn them into a sticky gel ready to adhere to people, animals, and objects who then help distribute and drop seeds into the ground. (en.m.wikipedia.org)

So, how did this sandy soil annual invasive species, Brassica tournefortii get here? The most logical answer is from imported date palm trees. According to tsusinvasives.org, Texas Invasive Species Institute, Sahara mustard was first discovered in the U.S. in 1927 near California’s Coachella Valley. It was likely introduced as a seed contaminant.

It’s Monday, not our day to “work”. Jeff and I have nothing better to do, so we hike out to Moon Country looking for Dan, the Land Steward extraordinaire, and his truck. Why?… to help pull Sahara Mustard weeds! Why not?

But what a windy day it is! By the time we find Dan pulling mustard along the ridge, my ears sting and my muscles are sore from plowing through the wind.

We find him parked off trail amid a blowing field of huge Brassica tournefortii. We do our best to help out, leaving a trail of destruction…

Sweaty, thirsty, and in need of a break… I stop to get a picture of blooming fields of desert sunflowers. White-capped Mt. San Gorgonio smiles down upon us.

And then… woo-hoo! Chicory buds and blossoms flap in the wind!

When we are done we gratefully accepted Dan’s offer for a ride back to the Palm House where our RV awaits us.