Common names: bittercress

Family: Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)

Could be confused with: Hydrocotyle, Lindernia, Rorippa.

Native distribution: Cosmopolitan.

Species commonly cultivated:
Cardamine lyrata Bunge (China, Siberia, Japan)

Adventive distribution: None.

Weed status: Information not available.

Habit: Submersed, emergent creeping stem plant.

Brief description: Annual or perennial. Slender creeping stem, rooted at all nodes, branching regularly. Leaves alternate, short-petiolate, cordate to reniform to rarely pinnate with large terminal lobe, light green. Inflorescence a raceme with 10-30 pedicellate, white to yellow flowers. Sepals 4, green; petals 4, white. Dispersal by numerous seeds.

Natural habitat: Submersed in clear streams and emergent around ponds, springs, lakes and rivers.

Additional comments: A large cosmopolitan genus with a single species, C. lyrata, cultivated for aquaria.