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. cordifolia A. Gray var. lyallii (S. Watson) A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr.
Perennial; rhizome extensive, 2–25 mm thick; hairs 0, rarely on stem bases, leaf margins, minute, simple
Stem amid generally dense rhizomes, simple, 20–50 cm
Leaves simple, fleshy, cordate or reniform, petioled; basal and lower cauline 2–10 cm wide, generally wider than long, generally crenate; cauline arrayed from base to inflorescence, upper reduced
Inflorescence: bracts 0
Flower: petals 7–12 mm, obovate or narrower, long-clawed, white
Fruit ascending to erect, 20–34 mm, straight or curved; pedicel ascending, straight, 10–20 mm; style 0.5–2(6) mm
Seed flat, not winged, smooth
Ecology: Streambanks, moist aspen groves, meadows
Elevation: 1500–2300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, n High Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia
Synonyms: C. l. S. WatsonHorticultural information: STBL.
previous taxon | next taxon
Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Cardamine cordifolia var. lyallii
Retrieve dichotomous key for Cardamine
Return to treatment index page
Glossary