Mid-Atlantic Invaders Tool

narrowleaf bittercress

Cardamine impatiens

L.

Taxon, Habit: Plant, Forb

Habitat: Wetland/Terrestrial

U.S. Nativity: Introduced

Species Synonym(s): None

Common Name(s): None

Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard Family)

Family Synonym(s): None

Native Range (GRIN):

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Plant

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Flower

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Plant

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Stem

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Foliage

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Plant

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Plant

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Plant

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Description

Appearance
Cardamine impatiens is an herbaceous plant which can be an annual or biennial. It can grow to be 2 ft. (0.6 m) in height. The stem is erect and glabrous. It is somewhat shade tolerant, so it does well in forest edges or dappled sunlight. It also does well in areas that have moist soil.
Foliage
The leaves (6-20) are thin and membranous. The basal rosette of leaves are pinnately divided. Each leaf has 3-11 leaflets with rounded lobes. The leaves along the stem are also pinnately divided, with sharply toothed or lacerate leaflets. These leaves are sagittate auriculate (a pair of fleshy blunt projections turned downward) at their base, which is an important diagnostic characteristic.
Flowers
The plant blooms from May to August and its white flowers are small, being up to 0.1 in. (2.5 mm) long.
Fruit
The slender siliques (a type of fruit) ripen from May to September. They are 0.6-0.8 in. (1.5-2 cm) long and there are 10-24 seeds in each of them which shoot out from the dry fruits.
Ecological Threat
Cardamine impatiens produces many seeds per plant. It can form dense stands invading woodland habitats, and outcompete native species.

Uses

Landscape Ornamental Use (GRIN): No

All Uses (GRIN):

Distribution Map (EDDMapS)

Wetland Indicator

Summary: narrowleaf bittercress (Cardamine impatiens) is a Wetland/Terrestrial species.

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain (AGCP):

Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain regions

Eastern Mountains and Piedmont (EMP):

Mid-Atlantic Piedmont and Mountain regions

Northcentral and Northeast (NCNE):

Northern parts of PA and NJ (and beyond)


Legend (data from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

OBL (Obligate wetland): Almost always occurs in wetlands (estimated probability > 99%) under natural conditions

FACW (Facultative wetland): Usually occurs in wetlands (estimated probability 67% - 99%), but occasionally found in non-wetlands

FAC (Facultative): Equally likely to occur in wetlands (estimated probability 34% - 66%) or non-wetlands

FACU (Facultative upland): Usually occur in non-wetlands (estimated probability 67% - 99%), but occasionally found in wetlands (estimated probability 1% - 33%)

UPL (Obligate upland): Occur almost always (estimated probability > 99%) in non-wetlands under natural conditions

Taxonomic Rank

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Dilleniidae
Order: Capparales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Cardamine
Subject: Cardamine impatiens L.