Coronopus didymus

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• lesser swinecress
• lesser wartcress
• Lesser Swine's Cress
• Lesser Swine-Cress
• Slender Wart-Cress
• Bitter Cress
• Swinecress
• Twin Cress

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Nasturtium americanum
• Lepidium prostratum
• Sennebiera pinnatifida
• Senebiera pinnatifida var. incisa
• Nasturtiolum pinnatum
• Biscutella apetala
• Senebiera pectinata
• Nasturtiolum castratum
• Lepidium anglicum
• Senebiera pinnatifida
• Lepidium americanum
• Senebiera supina
• Senebiera didyma
• Senebiera heleniana
• Cochlearia humifusa
• Senebiera incisa
• Eudistemon humifusum
• Coronopus didymus var. incisus
• Coronopus didymus f. incisus
• Coronopus didymus var. macrocarpus
• Coronopus didymus f. pectinatus
• Coronopus didymus var. rosulatus
• Coronopus didymus
• Coronopus heleniana
• Coronopus incisus
• Coronopus leptocarpus
• Coronopus leptocarpus var. microcarpus
• Coronopus pectinatus
• Coronopus pinnatifidus
• Coronopus pinnatifidus
• Coronopus pinnatus
• Crucifera senebiera
• Carara didyma
• Coronopus didymus var. procumbens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Lepidium didymum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Brassicales. Finally, it is a member of the family Brassicaceae and is situated within the genus Lepidium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Lepidium didymum, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and terrestrial landscapes of Denmark. Furthermore, its presence extends to the northern reaches of the continent within Finland. The species is also documented throughout the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical range includes the rugged terrains of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lepidium didymum is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution and a strong association with human-disturbed environments. This species thrives across a wide elevational range, beginning at sea level (0 m AMSL) and reaching a maximum altitude of 2900 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1600 m AMSL. Its primary habitat is identified as anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), indicating that the plant frequently colonizes environments shaped by human activity, such as cultivated lands, roadsides, or disturbed soils.

Elevational range max:

2900 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Lepidium didymum are characterized by a specific karyotype that defines its reproductive and evolutionary biology. A fundamental genetic attribute of this species is its chromosome number, which is recorded as 32. This chromosomal count serves as a key cytogenetic marker, distinguishing it within the Brassicaceae family and influencing its genomic stability and inheritance patterns. The specific diploid number plays a critical role in the plant's ability to undergo meiosis and ensures the proper distribution of genetic material during sexual reproduction.

Chromosome number :

32

Life history

The life history of Lepidium didymum is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire biological progression from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives unfavorable environmental conditions by existing solely as a seed, which remains dormant until conditions become favorable for rapid growth and reproduction. This plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its vegetative structures as it completes its seasonal cycle. Its growth strategy is centered on efficient resource acquisition during its short lifespan, typical of a therophytic life form that prioritizes quick maturation and prolific seeding to ensure the continuity of the species.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Lepidium didymum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This plant is terrestrial in nature, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. It is a self-supporting species that does not exhibit climbing behavior, such as lianas or vines. The plant features an ascending shoot orientation, with a maximum shoot length reaching up to 40 cm. In terms of stature, the plant displays a height ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.22425 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.22425 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Shoot length max:

40 cm

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lepidium didymum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy. The plant does not exhibit succulence and lacks the capacity for nitrogen fixation, relying instead on standard soil nutrient uptake. Its leaf morphology is notably pinnatisect in form, with dimensions that vary significantly; leaf length ranges from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, while leaf width fluctuates between 0.5 cm and 3 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 1.7 cm. The average leaf size is recorded at 1.5896 cm², and the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 351.57 cm²/g, reflecting its specific leaf mass distribution and resource acquisition efficiency.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

pinnatisect

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf size mean:

1.5896 cm²

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.7 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

351.57 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Lepidium didymum is primarily sexual, facilitated by bisexual flowers that are capable of self-fertilization. The plant produces white flowers arranged in a raceme inflorescence, with individual flowers measuring between 0.06 cm and 0.08 cm in length. These flowers follow a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects for pollen transfer. The flowering period typically commences in February and extends through August. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a dehiscence-style fruit known as a siliqua. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 0.125 cm (ranging from 0.13 cm to a maximum of 1.6 cm) and a mean width of 0.2125 cm (ranging from 0.2 cm to 0.28 cm). Each siliqua is highly prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds are remarkably small and uniform, with a consistent length of 1 mm and a mean mass of approximately 0.000503857 g (ranging from 0.00003 g to 0.00072 g). Dispersal is characterized as zoochorous, specifically utilizing an epizoochorous mechanism to spread seeds. There is no evidence of asexual reproduction in this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower length max:

0.08 cm

Flower length min:

0.06 cm

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

1.6 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.125 cm

Fruit length min:

0.13 cm

Fruit type :

siliqua

Fruit width max:

0.28 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.2125 cm

Fruit width min:

0.2 cm

Inflorescence :

raceme

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00072 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000503857 g

Seed mass min:

3e-05 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lepidium didymum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Lepidium didymum has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, FLAVONE, benzoic acid, ferulic acid, kaempferol.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

FLAVONE

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

benzoic acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

ferulic acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

kaempferol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

quercetin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Lepidium didymum has 9 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifungal, Antiproliferative.

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antibacterial

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antidiabetic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antifungal

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antiproliferative

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antipyretic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antitumor

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Cytotoxic

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Expectorant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations