this plant is a biennial or perennial herb with one or more unbranched erect dark reddish-purple stems reaching anywhere from 15 centimeters to nearly a meter in height. there are a few straight, somewhat toothed, dark greenish leaves along the stems. at the tops of the stems are thin clusters of flowers with rounded bright to dark yellow or orangish petals, each one or two centimeters long. the flowers drop to leave long, flat fruits which are siliques up to 15 centimeters long, sticking out from the stem.