Participant Info

Species

Thlaspi arvense

Family

Brassicaceae

CommonName

fanweed, field pennycress

Presence

YES

Status

exotic

EarliestDate

1935

LatestDate

2021

Ecosystem

basin, shrubland, foothill, montane, ruderal

Geobotanical

SSawatch, Garitas, SSanjuans, LBasin

Counties

Conejos, Costilla, Hinsdale, Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache

Passes

La Veta

WildlifePreserves

Other Localities

PhotoRecords

YES Rich Haswell: Saguache Co, side of Hwy 14 as it passes Luders Creek campground 25 Aug 2021; Rio Grande Co, on trail to Million Reservoir 11 Aug 2022

Comments

Thlaspi arvense is an exotic from Eurasia that has naturalized in the Watershed—from road and rail sides and grazed meadows to open montane grasslands, including occasionally riparian habitats. There are many collections, dating from 1898, from both sides of the Valley. The species is now present in all states of the USA, and follows the Rio Grande drainage through New Mexico to Otero Co. But farther down stream the only possible drainage location is Uvalde Co, Texas. Note that the status of field pennycress as an invasive exotic is complicated by its potential as a biofuel crop. It can be usefully integrated with other crops, such as corn. Fall planting seems to help eliminate the spring germination of unwelcome genera such as Ambrosia, Amaranthus, and Chenopodium.

Annotation