Cardamine impatiens

Biennials or, rarely, annuals; usually glabrous, rarely sparsely pubescent basally. Rhizomes absent. Stems erect, (angled, sometimes flexuous), unbranched basally, usually branched distally, (1.2–)2–6.5(–9) dm. Basal leaves (often withered by flowering), rosulate, similar to cauline, with fewer distal leaflets. Cauline leaves 9–24, (9–)13–25-foliolate, petiolate, leaflets petiolulate; petiole 2–6 cm, base auriculate (auricles to 10 × 2.2 mm); lateral leaflets similar to terminal, blade often smaller; terminal leaflet (petiolule to 0.5 cm), blade orbicular, obovate, ovate, or lanceolate, 1–4(–5) cm × 5–17 mm, margins entire or 3–5(–9)-toothed or -lobed. Racemes ebracteate. Fruiting pedicels divaricate or ascending, 3.5–12(–15) mm. Flowers: sepals oblong, 1.2–2(–2.5) × 0.7–1(–1.2) mm, lateral pair not saccate basally; petals (rarely absent), white, oblanceolate, 1.5–4(–5) × 0.6–1.2 mm; filaments 2–3(–4) mm; anthers ovate, 0.3–0.5 mm. Fruits linear, (torulose), (1–)1.6–3(–3.5) cm × 0.9–1.5 mm; (valves glabrous or, rarely, pilose); ovules 10–30 per ovary; style 0.6–1.6(–2) mm. Seeds brown, oblong, 1.1–1.5 × 0.8–1 mm, (compressed, sometimes narrowly winged apically). 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat: Streamsides, slopes, roadsides, fields, disturbed areas
Elevation: 0-200 m

Distribution

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Ont., Conn., Ky., Mich., Minn., N.H., Ohio, Pa., Va., W.Va., Eurasia, introduced also in South Africa.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.