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. californica (Nutt.) Greene
MILK MAIDS, TOOTH WORT
Perennial; rhizome < 2 cm, tuber-like; hairs 0, rarely minute, simple
Stem 20–70 cm
Leaves: leaflets or lobes of cauline leaves entire to wavy or dentate; leaflets or lobes of rhizome leaves generally 3, 2–6 cm wide, ovate to ± cordate; cauline leaves alternate, lower long-petioled, upper short-petioled to ± sessile, leaflets or lobes 3–5, widely ovate to oblong
Inflorescence elongate in fruit
Flower: petals 9–14 mm, white to pale rose
Fruit erect, 20–50 mm, 1.5–2 mm wide; pedicel ascending, 10–30 mm; style 3–6 mm
Ecology: Generally shaded sites, canyons, woods
Elevation: < 1200 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: Oregon, Baja California
Synonyms: Dentaria c. Nutt
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