Biennial or perennial glabrous herb, 30-60 (-90) cm tall, erect, branched. Basal leaves rosulate, lyrate, 3-5-jugate, stalked, 5-15 cm long, 1.5-4 cm broad; terminal lobes much larger than the lateral ones, ovate-oblong with somewhat cordate base; cauline leaves amplexicaul, simply dentate to sinuate-dentate, 1-4 cm long, 0.5-2.5 cm broad. Racemes 20-40-flowered, up to 20 cm long in fruit. Flowers 5-7 mm across, yellow; pedicels 5-10 mm long in fruit, spreading or slightly upcurved, slightly thickened. Sepals c. 3 mm long. Petals 5-6 (-8) mm long, c. 2 mm broad. Stamens c. 3:3.5 mm long. Siliquae 15-30 (-40) mm long, 1.5-2 mm broad, erect, straight to slightly upcurved, glabrous; valves with a distinct mid-vein; style c. 2 mm long; seeds many, 1-seriate, c. 1.5 mm long, smoke brown.

Fl. Per.: April-June.

Type: Described from Europe, Britain.

Distribution: Most of Europe and Asia.

A very variable species but fairly distinct in its radical leaves. Some forms overlap with the following species, but smaller fruits may distinguish it.