Species
Cardamine dolichostyla
Etymology
Cardamine: From the Greek name kárdamon, referring to an Indian spice
Common Name(s)
bittercress
Authority
Cardamine dolichostyla Heenan
Family
Brassicaceae
Brief Description
Perennial herb, a single rosette or with off-sets (short lateral branches). Leaves up to 130 mm long, deeply lobed; moderatey hairy to hairless, somewhat glossy.
Inflorescence is a raceme, sometimes branched, each raceme 6–12-flowered; flowering stems to 400 mm or more tall. Mature flowers often turned horizontally rather than upright, flowering plants being relatively conspicuous in dark forest.
Flora Category
Vascular - Native
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites
Synonyms
Once included in C. debilis, under the name Cardamine 'Long Style'
Distribution
Widespread; in North Island south from South Auckland and west of the axial ranges; in northern South Island and Canterbury.
Habitat
In lowland to montane moist forest, sometimes disturbed sites.
Similar Taxa
C. forsteri, and it often grows with C. dolichostyla. The latter has larger flowers, often turned sideways and the flowers have a longer style; leaves somewhat more glossy than in C. forsteri.
Flower Colours
White
Endemic Taxon
Yes
Endemic Genus
No
Endemic Family
No
This page last updated on 17 Sep 2019