Bitter cress facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bitter cress |
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| Plate III (Hooker, 1844) | |
| Conservation status | |
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Invalid status (NZ TCS)
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| Scientific classification |
Cardamine depressa, also known as bitter cress, is a small plant. It belongs to the Brassicaceae family, which includes plants like cabbage and mustard. You can find this plant growing on the Antipodean Islands.
What Does Cardamine depressa Look Like?
Cardamine depressa is a type of plant called a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. Its stems stand upright and can grow up to 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) tall. These stems usually have no hairs.
The leaves of this plant can be smooth or a bit hairy. They might be brownish or green. Some leaves are thick and leathery, while others are thin. The leaves at the bottom of the plant are simple. They can have rounded edges (crenate) or smooth edges (entire).
The flowers have white petals. Each petal is very small, about 2 to 3 millimeters long. The flowers also have six stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. After flowering, the plant makes brown seeds. These seeds are round or oval-shaped and are less than 1 millimeter long.
You can see Cardamine depressa flowering from October to March. It produces fruit from November to March.
Where Does Cardamine depressa Live?
This plant likes to grow in wet, rocky areas. It is often found near the sea, growing among grasses.
Is Cardamine depressa Endangered?
In New Zealand, experts check on plants to see if they are at risk. In 2009 and 2012, Cardamine depressa was considered "Not Threatened." This meant it was not in danger of disappearing.
However, in 2018, its status changed to "At Risk - Naturally Uncommon." This means the plant is not common, but it's not in immediate danger. It's naturally rare because it only grows in specific places.
There are two types, or subspecies, of Cardamine depressa. Both are found only on islands. Experts also noted that there isn't much information about them, so they are "Data Poor." They are also "Island endemics," meaning they live only on islands. Both subspecies are found in only one location.
