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Water-cress
Water-cress Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum HEIGHT to 15cm
Usually creeping perennial of shallow streams and ditches. FLOWERS 4–6mm across with 4 white petals; in terminal heads (May–Oct). FRUITS Narrow pods, 16–18mm long, containing 2 rows of seeds. LEAVES Dark green and pinnately divided; persisting through winter. STATUS Widespread and common; widely cultivated in S England.
Hairy Bitter-cress
Hairy Bitter-cress
Hairy Bitter-cress Cardamine hirsuta HEIGHT to 30cm
Upright annual with hairless stems. Found on damp, disturbed ground. FLOWERS 2–3mm across (petals sometimes absent) and terminal (Feb–Nov). FRUITS Curved, up to 2.5cm long, overtopping flowers. LEAVES Pinnately divided with rounded lobes; seen mainly as a basal rosette plus 1–4 stem leaves. STATUS Widespread and common.
Wavy Bitter-cress
Wavy Bitter-cress
Wavy Bitter-cress Cardamine flexuosa HEIGHT to 50cm
Similar to Hairy Bitter-cress but taller and with wavy, hairy stems. Favours damp and disturbed ground. FLOWERS 3–4mm across with 4 white petals (Mar–Sep). FRUITS Curved, barely overtopping flowers. LEAVES Pinnately divided with rounded lobes; seen as a basal rosette plus 4–10 stem leaves. STATUS Widespread and common.
Bush, Robin
Large Bitter-cress
Large Bitter-cress Cardamine amara
Upright perennial found in damp, shady places in woods and marshes. FLOWERS 12mm across with 4 white petals and violet anthers (Apr–June). FRUITS Slender, beaked pods, up to 4cm long. LEAVES Pinnately divided, with slightly toothed oval lobes. STATUS Wide spread but local; scarce in, or absent from, W England and S Ireland.
Cuckooflower
Cuckooflower
Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis HEIGHT to 50cm
Variable perennial of damp, grassy places. Also known as Lady’s-smock. FLOWERS 12–20mm across with 4 pale lilac or white flowers (Apr– June). FRUITS Elongated, beaked. LEAVES Seen mainly in a basal rosette of pinnately divided leaves with rounded lobes; narrow stem leaves also present. STATUS Widespread and locally common.
Cleave, Andrew
Coralroot
Coralroot Cardamine bulbifera
Perennial of undisturbed woodland on calcareous or sandy soils. FLOWERS 12–18mm across with 4 pink petals; in terminal heads (Apr–May). FRUITS Narrow, 3.5cm long. LEAVES Pinnately divided (upper ones less so) with 1–3 pairs of leaflets; borne up stem with brown bulbils in axils. STATUS Scarce and local; SE England only.
Northern Rock-cress
Northern Rock-cress Arabis petraea
Variable perennial of rocky places in mountains. FLOWERS 5–7mm across with 4 whitish or lilac petals (June–Aug). FRUITS Curved, 4cm long. LEAVES Basal rosette of pinnately lobed, stalked leaves plus narrow, toothed stem leaves. STATUS Local. Tower Mustard A. glabra is tall (to 1m); greyish, arrow-shaped, clasping leaves and tiny pale flowers. Scarce on dry ground in south.
Hairy Rock-cress
Hairy Rock-cress Arabis hirsuta HEIGHT to 60cm
Variable, hairy biennial found in calcareous grassland. FLOWERS 3–5mm across with 4 white petals; in dense, terminal heads (May–Aug). FRUITS Cylindrical, upright pods 3.5cm long. LEAVES Barely toothed, oval; basal ones in a rosette, stem leaves clasping. STATUS Widespread but only locally common.
Bush, Robin
Hutchinsia
Hutchinsia Hornungia petraea
