Broadpod Whitlowgrass (Tomostima platycarpa) is a volunteer here and will be invited to stay. It’s a member of the mustard family, native to Texas and a few other states.
Most of the time, the scientific name for plants is the most reliable way to tell exactly what you’re dealing with. The same plant often has different common names, and sometimes the same common name gets used for different plants.
However, occasionally botanic names get changed as more is learned about a specific plant, which can confuse ordinary people like me, and this is one example.
When I was researching Broadpod Whitlowgrass, I found two different scientific names: Draba platycarpa and Tomostima platycarpa. The latter (Tomostima) is the correct genus after a recent reclassification by scientists, although many of the online data sources have not made the change, hence my confusion. I consulted with a botanist friend to get the scoop.
As you can see from the photo below, this plant has tiny flowers. I included a hand to indicate scale when I was using iNaturalist to confirm the identification. When making observations, it is helpful to include several photos that highlight different aspects of an organism.



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