Cardamine pensylvanica
{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{more footnotes|date=October 2013}}
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| image = Cardamine pensylvanica NRCS-1.jpg
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| status_system = TNC
| taxon = Cardamine pensylvanica
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Cardamine pensylvanica is a species of Cardamine known by the common name Pennsylvania bittercress. It is native to most of Canada and the United States from coast to coast.
Ecology and description
It is generally found in moist to wet areas, such as the mud on riverbanks. It is a biennial herb producing one or more erect or leaning, branching stems which are purple to green in color and grow {{convert|10|-|70|cm|0|abbr=on}} tall. The leaves are hairless and divided into several rounded to oval lobes, each of which has one or two lobes, with the exception of the large terminal leaflet at the tip, which generally has three. Most of the leaves are located along the stem and there is no basal rosette. The inflorescence comprises many flowers, each with four white petals a few millimeters long,{{Cite web|title=Pennsylvania Bittercress, Cardamine pensylvanica|url=https://calscape.org/Cardamine-pensylvanica-()|url-status=live|access-date=|website=calscape.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511021144/https://calscape.org/Cardamine-pensylvanica-() |archive-date=2021-05-11 }} blossoming from April to October. The fruit is a slender silique {{convert|2|-|3|cm|1|abbr=on}} long.
Consumption
All parts of Cardamine pensylvanica are considered edible. Young leaves can be eaten raw, while older leaves should be cooked; they have a peppery flavor.{{Cite book|last=Fagan|first=Damian|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1073035766|title=Wildflowers of Oregon: A Field Guide to Over 400 Wildflowers, Trees, and Shrubs of the Coast, Cascades, and High Desert|publisher=FalconGuides|year=2019|isbn=978-1-4930-3633-2|location=Guilford, CT|pages=190|oclc=1073035766}} Seed pods are good raw, stir fried, or pickled, before seeds mature and harden. Roots can be mixed with vinegar to make a good horseradish substitute.{{cite web|url=http://www.eattheweeds.com/bittercress-and-kissing-crucifer-cousins/ |title=Bittercress and Kissing Crucifer Cousins |date=31 August 2011 |publisher=Eat The Weeds}}
References
External links
- [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?2240,2342,2366 Jepson Manual Treatment]
- [https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CAPE3 USDA Plants Profile]
- [http://www.missouriplants.com/Whitealt/Cardamine_pensylvanica_page.html Missouri Plants]
- [http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/pn_bittercress.htm Illinois Wildflowers]
- [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Cardamine+pensylvanica Photo gallery]
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Category:Flora of Northern America
Category:Plants described in 1800
Category:Taxa named by Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg
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