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. occidentalis (B.L. Rob.) Howell
Perennial; rhizomes short, 0.5–1 mm thick, ± tuber-like at stem base; hairs generally sparse or 0
Stem erect or decumbent, rooting at nodes, ± branched, 20–40 cm
Leaves: basal few, petioled, pinnately lobed, lateral lobes (2)4–6, 3–8 mm, ovate to cordate-ovate, generally entire, terminal lobe 1–2 cm, cordate-ovate, wavy-margined; cauline several, upper ± sessile
Flower: petals 4–6 mm, white
Fruit erect, 20–30 mm, 1–1.5 mm wide; pedicels ascending, lowest 10–15 mm; style ± 1 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=32,64
Ecology: Wet soils, margins of lakes, creeks
Elevation: < 1000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California
Distribution outside California: to Alaska
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