Draba verna Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 642. 1753. Erophila verna (Linnaeus) L. Chevall., Fl. Gén. Env. Paris 2: 898. 1872. TYPE: “Habitat in Europae aridis ,” lectotype designated by Jafri (1973, 147), Herb Linn. No. 823.7 (LINN).

Herbs, annual, scapose. Stems (2–)5–20(–30) cm, few to many from base, unbranched, erect to ascending, leafless, pubescent near base with simple and 2(–4)-rayed trichomes 0.1–0.4 mm, glabrous distally. Basal leaves rosulate, obovate, spatulate, oblanceolate, lanceolate, oblong, or rarely linear, 2–18(–30) x (0.5–)1–5(–10) mm, entire or 1–5-toothed on each side, both surfaces pubescent with simple or stalked, 2–4-rayed trichomes 0.1–0.5 mm; cauline leaves of flowering stems absent. Racemes ebracteate, 4–20(–30)-flowered, usually elongated considerably in fruit; rachis glabrous, usually flexuous; lowermost fruiting pedicels divaricate to ascending, straight or slightly curved upward, (2–)5–20(–35) mm, glabrous. Flowers: sepals green or purplish, oblong, 1–2.5 mm, glabrescent or pubescent with simple or 2-rayed trichomes; petals white, deeply 2-fid, (1.5–)2–4.5(–6) x 1–2 mm; anthers ovate, 0.2–0.4 mm. Fruit obovate, oblanceolate, lanceolate, elliptic, oblong, or linear, (2.5–)4–9(–12) x 1.5–2.5(–3.5) mm, flattened, not twisted, glabrous; style 0.02–0.2 mm; ovules and seeds (20–)32–70(–84) per fruit. Seeds ovoid, slightly compressed, 0.3–0.6(–0.8) x 0.2–0.4 mm, wingless. 2n = 14, 16, 20, 24, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 52, 54, 58, 60, 64.

Flowering: Feb–May.

Habitat: cedar glades, lawns, fields, pastures, waste places, grassy hillsides, disturbed sites, roadsides.

Elevation: 0–2500 m.

Distribution: Canada and the United States. Native of Europe (all countries), Africa (Algeria, Ethiopia, Morocco, Tunisia), Asia (Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kashmir, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Yemen). Naturalized in Argentina (Chubut, Entre Rios, Nequén, Río Negro, Santa Cruz, Tierra del Fuego), Australia, Chile (Santiago, Región XII), Canada (British Columbia, New Brunswick, Quebec), United States (Alabama, Arkansas, Califrnia, Connecticut, Delaware, DC., Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming).

Notes: A very highly variable species in every aspect of leaf, flower, fruit, seed, and idumentum, as well in chromosome number. Numerous segregates were recognized (see Schulz, 1927).