bushy bittercress

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bushy bittercress
• narrow-leaved bittercress
• touch-me-not bittercress
• Narrow-Leaved Bitter-Cress
• narrow-leaf bittercress
• narrowleaf bittercress

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ghinia impatiens
• Crucifera impatiens
• Cardamine brachycarpa
• Cardamine dasycarpa
• Cardamine senanensis
• Cardamine impatiens proles dasycarpa
• Cardamine impatiens var. microphylla
• Cardamine impatiens var. minor
• Cardamine impatiens var. obtusifolia
• Cardamine impatiens var. acutifolia
• Cardamine impatiens var. angustifolia
• Cardamine impatiens var. dasycarpa
• Cardamine impatiens proles elongata
• Cardamine impatiens var. eriocarpa
• Cardamine impatiens var. fumaria
• Cardamine impatiens f. humilis
• Cardamine impatiens var. longipes
• Cardamine impatiens var. pilosa
• Cardamine impatiens var. tenuissima
• Cardamine glaphyropoda
• Cardamine glaphyropoda var. crenata
• Cardamine saxatilis
• Cardamine nakaiana
• Cardamine miyabei
• Cardamine basisagittata
• Cardamine apetala
• Cardamine hirsuta var. laxa
• Cardamine hirsuta var. umbrosa
• Cardamine impatiens var. patulipes

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Brassicales, it is a member of the family Brassicaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic classification places it within the genus Cardamine.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, its presence extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. The species is also documented to inhabit the landscapes of Norway. Together, these locations define its northern European range.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cardamine impatiens is characterized by its preference for moist, sheltered environments, specifically thriving within forest ecosystems and along the margins of rivers. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to colonize diverse topographical zones. It can be found at low elevations starting from a minimum of 150 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range of approximately 1412.5 m AMSL, and it extends its reach to high-altitude habitats reaching a maximum of 3500 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1412.5 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

150 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, rivers

Life history

The life history of Cardamine impatiens is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. In terms of its structural growth strategy, the species functions as both a therophyte and a hemicryptophyte, relying on seeds or protected buds at the soil surface to survive unfavorable conditions. Its physiological development is marked by an evergreen nature, maintaining its foliage to maximize photosynthetic activity throughout its active period.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

therophyte

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Cardamine impatiens is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. The plant is a self-supporting species that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it operates as an independent organism rather than a parasite. It is a terrestrial plant, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.85 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.379 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.85 m

Plant height mean:

0.379 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cardamine impatiens is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on traditional soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Morphologically, its leaves possess a mean surface area of 2.39 cm², contributing to its overall leaf architecture. Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 338 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and indicating specific adaptations regarding its leaf thickness and resource allocation strategies.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

2.39 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

338 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of Cardamine impatiens is characterized by a seasonal flowering period that typically commences in May and concludes in July. The plant utilizes biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects such as beetles to facilitate the transfer of pollen, and it is capable of self-fertilization to ensure reproductive success. Following fertilization, the plant develops fruit in the form of a dehiscent capsule. These capsules vary in size, with a mean length of 2.4 cm, ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 2.8 cm. The dispersal of offspring is achieved through an autochorous mechanism, where the seeds are dispersed by the plant itself. The resulting seeds are remarkably small, possessing a mean mass of 0.000234 g, with a documented range between 0.00019 g and 0.000234 g. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species, making sexual reproduction via seed production the primary method for propagation.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

2.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.4 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

beetle

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00019 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000234 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cardamine impatiens has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Glucosinolates.

Glucosinolates

1. PloS one