Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, and from the central U.S. and eastern Canada to the Atlantic Coast; circumboreal.

Habitat: Shrub-steppe, grasslands, and open disturbed areas at low to middle elevations.

Flowers: February-May

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Self-pollination, bees, flies

Small annual herb 5-20 cm tall.

All basal, simple, narrow, with weak teeth on margin and stellate hairs on surface.

White, small, with 4 deeply notched petals; in racemes at top of stems.

Elliptic capsules (siliques).

One of the earliest species to bloom in spring; plants are small; leaves all basal with branched hairs; flowers white with 4 deeply notched petals.