Common bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta, Sp. Pl.: 655 (1753))

Family: Brassicaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 655 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Cardamine

Vegetable: False

Observations: Temp. & Subtrop. Northern Hemisphere to Old World Trop. Mts.

Description

Common bittercress, scientifically known as Cardamine hirsuta, is a fascinating plant species that finds its roots in the esteemed bibliography of “Species Plantarum” on page 655, published in 1753 by the renowned naturalist Linnaeus (abbreviated as “L.”). This herbaceous plant is a member of the Brassicaceae family, which is known for its diverse and often agriculturally significant members.

The natural habitat of the Common bittercress spans a considerable range, predominantly occupying temperate and subtropical regions in the Northern Hemisphere. Additionally, it exhibits a remarkable adaptability by colonizing montane areas in the Old World tropics. This wide geographic distribution highlights the plant’s resilience and versatility in various climates and elevations.

Cardamine hirsuta, often found in moist and shaded localities, is characterized by its small stature and rapid life cycle, which makes it a common sight in gardens and fields where it is sometimes considered a weed. Despite its often overlooked presence, it plays a crucial role in natural ecosystems and is of interest for its unique biological and ecological properties.

The plant’s foliage typically consists of pinnate leaves with several small, rounded leaflets. During its flowering season, Common bittercress produces delicate, white, four-petaled flowers that eventually give way to slender seed pods known as siliques. These siliques explosively release seeds, thus ensuring the propagation of the species across suitable habitats.

In summary, the Common bittercress, or Cardamine hirsuta, is a small but resilient member of the Brassicaceae family. Its ubiquity across temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere and tropical montane ecosystems of the Old World underscores its adaptability and ecological significance. As a default part of Linnaeus’ historical taxonomy, it continues to be a subject of botanical interest and ecological importance.

Common Names

Deu: behaartes schaumkraut, vielstengeliges schaumkraut, viermänniges schaumkraut
Eng: bittercress, common bittercress, hairy bitter-cress, hairy bittercress, hoary bittercress
Swe: brudslöja, gråknytling, luddknytling, ryssknytling, tusenfrö, bergbräsma, mäkilitukka, bergsbräsma
Dan: firebladet mangefrø, flerårig brudeslør, håret brudurt, roset-springklap, rosetkarse
Fra: cardamine hérissée, cardamine hirsute, cardamine hispide, cardamine à tiges nombreuses
Nld: kleine veldkers
Nor: liden vand-karse
Fin: mäkilitukka
Lav: pukaina kersa
Nno: rosettkarse
Nob: rosettkarse
Ces: řeřišnice srstnatá
Sme: dearbmesuorbmagoahti
Cym: berwr blewog, berwr chwerw blewog, berwr y gerddi, berwr y meysydd, chwerw blewog, hydyf blewog, hydyf blewog y maes, hydyf blewog yr ardd
En: Common bittercress, Hairy bittercress, Bittercress, Flick weed, Hoary bittercress, Lamb’s cress, Shot weed, Hairy bitter-cress, Small Bittercress, Hairy Bitter Cress, Pepperweed
Ab: Адәыҷархал
Ar: حرف زغبي
Az: Kələkötür ürəkotu
Be: Буйміна шурпатая
Bg: Влакнеста горва
Zh: 碎米荠, 碎米薺, 臺灣碎米薺
Kw: Beler hwerow
Cs: Řeřišnice srstnatá
Da: Firebladet mangefrø, Flerårig brudeslør, Håret brudurt, Roset-springklap, Rosetkarse
Nl: Kleine veldkers
Eo: Harhava kardamino
Et: Kare jürilill
Fi: Mäkilitukka
Fr: Cardamine hérissée, Cardamine hirsute, Cardamine hispide, Cardamine à tiges nombreuses, Cresson de muraille, Cresson de vigne, Cardamine flexueuse, Cardamine des bois
De: Viermänniges Schaumkraut, Behaartes Schaumkraut, Gartenschaumkraut, Ruderal-Schaumkraut, Vielstängel-Schaumkraut, Vielstengeliges Schaumkraut, Garten-Schaumkraut, Vielstengliges Schaumkraut
He: קרדמין שעיר
Is: Lambaklukka
Ga: Searbh-bhiolar giobach
It: Billeri primaticcio
Lv: Pukaina kersa
Se: Dearbmesuorbmagoahti
No: Rosettkarse, Liden vand-karse
Nb: Rosettkarse
Nn: Rosettkarse
Pl: Rzeżucha włochata
Sk: Žerušnica chlpatá
Es: Mastuerzo menor
Sv: Bergbräsma, Brudslöja, Gråknytling, Luddknytling, Ryssknytling, Tusenfrö, Mäkilitukka, Bergsbräsma
Zh-tw: 臺灣碎米薺
Zh-hant: 碎米薺
Uk: Жеруха шорстка
Cy: Berwr chwerw blewog, Berwr Blewog, Berwr y Gerddi, Berwr y Meysydd, Chwerw Blewog, Hydyf Blewog, Hydyf Blewog y Maes, Hydyf Blewog yr Ardd

Synonyms

• Cardamine virginica (Michx.)
• Cardamine hirsuta f. subnuda (Merino)
• Ghinia hirsuta ((L.) Bubani)
• Cardamine hirsuta f. pilosa ((O.E.Schulz) Kuusk)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. rotundiloba (Hayata)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. glabra (Lej.)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. formosana (Hayata)
• Cardamine fagetina (Schur)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. unicaulis (O.E.Schulz)
• Cardamine scutata var. rotundiloba ((Hayata) T.S.Liu & S.S.Ying)
• Cardamine tetrandra (Hegetschw.)
• Cardamine hirsuta f. multicaulis (Sennen)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. exigua (O.E.Schulz)
• Crucifera cardamine (E.H.L.Krause)
• Cardamine hirsuta f. coerulescens (Rivas Mateos)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. foliosa (Sennen)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. sabulosa (Wimm. & Grab.)
• Cardamine scutata var. formosana ((Hayata) T.S.Liu & S.S.Ying)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. multicaulis ((Sennen) Sennen)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. montana (Macoun)
• Cardamine hirsuta f. apetala (Soó)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. micrantha (Gaudin)
• Cardamine praecox (Pall. ex Ledeb.)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. petiolulata (O.E.Schulz)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. prolifera (DC.)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. maxima (Fisch.)
• Cardamine hirsuta subsp. puberula ((Rouy & Foucaud) O.E.Schulz)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. litoralis (Svanlund)
• Cardamine parviflora (Suter)
• Cardamine hirsuta subsp. multicaulis ((Hoppe ex Schur) Čelak.)
• Ghinia sylvatica (Bubani)
• Cardamine humilis (Kit.)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. pterocarpa (Merino)
• Cardamine hirsuta f. unicaulis ((O.E.Schulz) Jovan.-Dunj.)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. pilosa (O.E.Schulz)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. tetrandra (Stokes)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. stylosa (Hartm.)
• Cardamine hirsuta f. glabra (Schweinf.)
• Cardamine angulata (Regel)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. clandestina (Fr.)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. apetala (Soó)
• Cardamine micrantha (Spenn.)
• Cardamine hirsuta f. foliosa (Sennen)
• Cardamine hirsuta f. litoralis ((Svalund) O.E.Schulz)
• Cardamine hirsuta f. umbrosa (O.E.Schulz)
• Cardamine multicaulis (Hoppe ex Schur)
• Cardamine hirsuta f. grandiflora (O.E.Schulz)
• Cardamine simensis (Hochst. ex Oliv.)
• Cardamine hirsuta subvar. puberula (Rouy & Foucaud)
• Cardamine tenella (E.D.Clarke)
• Cardamine umbrosa (Andrz. ex DC.)
• Cardamine borbonica (Bojer)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. major (Lej.)
• Cardamine angulata var. alba (Regel)
• Cardamine hirsuta var. sylvatica (Hartm.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Assam (native)
• Austria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Borneo (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Congo (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Føroyar (native)
• Gabon (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
• Hungary (native)
• India (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Laos (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Mauritius (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Romania (native)
• Rwanda (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Somalia (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sumatera (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Amsterdam-St.Paul Is (introduced)
• Antipodean Is. (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Chatham Is. (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Chile South (introduced)
• Christmas I. (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Falkland Is. (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kazakhstan (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Macquarie Is. (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Northern Territory (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Panamá (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• South Georgia (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Leaf

Taken Mar 5, 2020 by ftourtea (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 5, 2020 by André Biemans (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 21, 2018 by Lilian Car (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 3, 2020 by Antoine le Clercq (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 4, 2017 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Feb 3, 2020 by Antoine le Clercq (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 21, 2022 by Radoslav Marinkovic (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 21, 2022 by Radoslav Marinkovic (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 28, 2018 by Thomas Huet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 27, 2018 by Arcopinto Marianna (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Apr 9, 2017 by c.broniecki@free.fr (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 13, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Michel MONTEIL (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 4, 2021 by Geneviève Achille (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Feb 19, 2019 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Mar 29, 2007 by Tela Botanica − John DE VOS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 28, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 23, 2021 by Jardin Des Cocagnous (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 19, 2019 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 23, 2021 by Albert Mallol Camprubí (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Feb 20, 2022 by Gui ferl (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 10, 2022 by Noel Benson (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 22, 2016 by Gemma Andrew (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 3, 2020 by Antoine le Clercq (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 18, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Aurore MOLLEREAU (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Feb 9, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Laurent LEMETAIS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 12, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Sébastien Senesse (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2006 by Tela Botanica − Jean- Marie MARTIG (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2022 by Julien Bory (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 14, 2022 by Jardins de Montchat (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:280380-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3046258)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cardamine hirsuta L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 6.5

Ph minimum: 5.5

Light: 5

Atmospheric humidity: 6

Soil nutriments: 7