Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Sisymbrium irio L.

Family

Brassicaceae (Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and the Northern Territory)
Cruciferae (South Australia)

Common Names

desert mustard, London rocket, London-rocket, Londonrocket, rocket mustard

Origin

Native to northern Africa, southern Europe, the middle-east, western Asia, Pakistan and western China.

Naturalised Distribution

Widely naturalised in southern, central and eastern Australia (i.e. in southern and central Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, western and central Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, the southern and western parts of Western Australia, and the southern parts of the Northern Territory).

Also naturalised overseas in North America (i.e. in Mexico and many parts of the USA) and Hawaii.

Notes

London rocket (Sisymbrium irio) is a widespread weed of crops, pastures, roadsides, parks, gardens, lawns, footpaths, disturbed sites and waste areas. However, it also invades open woodlands, shrublands and vegetation near watercourses in the semi-arid areas of southern Australia. It is regarded as a minor environmental weed in Victoria and Western Australia.