Plant species

hairy bittercress Cardamine hirsuta

Brassicaceae

Species information

Description

A mustard-family plant with alternate leaves and four petals arranged in a cross; its fruit is a pod or short pod. A small annual of gardens, walls and disturbed soils that rapidly forms long upright seed pods.

Plant traits

Growth form

annual forb

Life cycle

annual

Height

5–30 cm

Typical season

123456789101112

Active growth

Flowering

Fruiting

Timing varies with site and year.

Habitat conditions

Habitat

gardens and parks · ruderal habitats · arable land

Light

full sun · partial shade

Moisture

mesic

Soil

indifferent

Substrate

indifferent

Pollination

self-pollination · insect pollination

Status

native

Interesting facts

When ripe, the long slender pods can split suddenly and scatter seeds several centimetres away.

LifeSystems

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