TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California Print edition is available from the University of California Press

	The second edition of The Jepson Manual (2012) is available from the University of California Press
	See also the Jepson eFlora, which parallels the Second Edition

BRASSICACEAE

MUSTARD FAMILY

Reed C. Rollins, except as specified

Annual to subshrub
Leaves generally basal and cauline, alternate, generally simple; stipules 0
Inflorescence: generally raceme
Flower bisexual; sepals 4, free; petals (0)4, free, generally white or yellow, often clawed; stamens generally (2,4)6, generally 4 long, 2 short; ovary 1, superior, chambers generally 2, septum membranous, connecting 2 parietal placentas, style 1, stigma simple or 2-lobed
Fruit: generally capsule ("silique") with 2 deciduous valves, sometimes breaking transversely or indehiscent
Seeds 1–many per chamber
Genera in family: 300+ genera, 3000+ species: worldwide, especially cool regions; some cultivated for food (especially Brassica, Raphanus ) and ornamental
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated to include Capparaceae [Rodman et al. 1993 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 80:686–699; Rollins 1993 Cruciferae of Continental North America. Stanford Univ Press]
Family description, key to genera by Robert A. Price.

CARDAMINE

BITTER-CRESS, TOOTHWORT

Annual, biennial, perennial herb, from taproots, fibrous roots, or tuber-like rhizomes; hairs 0 or simple
Leaves entire or palmately or pinnately lobed to compound; rhizome leaves often present, separate from others
Inflorescence bracted or not
Flower: sepals equal at base; petals white to pink or rose
Fruit linear, generally flat; valves generally opening elastically, sometimes by coiling from base; septum margins intruding on valves
Seeds many, 1 row per chamber, wingless (± margined in C. oligosperma); embryonic root at edges of both cotyledons
Species in genus: ± 170 species: most temp parts of world
Etymology: (Greek: for a cress with medicinal uses)

Native

C. breweri S. Watson

Perennial
Stem 15–50(70) cm; hairs generally 0 or below
Leaf simple or leaflets 3 or 5; simple leaves and terminal leaflets >> lateral leaflets, ovate to cordate, wavy-margined to shallowly lobed
Flower: petals ± 5 mm, white
Fruit erect, 15–30 mm; pedicel ascending, 5–20 mm; style 1.2 mm
Seed 1.5–2 mm
Ecology: Wet sites, coniferous forest
Elevation: < 3200 m.
Bioregional distribution: n Northwestern California, High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, Western Transverse Ranges, San Bernardino Mountains, East of Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, Colorado

Native

var. orbicularis (Greene) Detling

Rhizome generally short, ± erect, 0.5–2 mm thick
Stem generally 1, erect, 1.5–4 dm
Leaves: lower cauline leaflets cordate at base
Ecology: Muddy streambanks, swamps, wet woods
Elevation: < 500 m.
Bioregional distribution: n Northwestern California (Humboldt Co.)
Distribution outside California: to Washington

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Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Cardamine breweri var. orbicularis
Retrieve dichotomous key for Cardamine
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