Cardamine pensylvanica

Muhl. ex Willd.

Pennsylvania bittercress

Brassicaceae Edible: Leaves 6,451 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A cabbage family herb. It grows each year from seed or can last 2 years. It grows 45 cm tall. It has a taproot. The leaves have 5-11 narrow sword shaped leaflets. The flowers have petals 3-4 mm long.

Edible Uses

Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and make an excellent watercress substitute, with a slightly bitter but not unpleasant flavour. The grated raw root can be used as a condiment.

Traditional Uses

Leaves can be used in salads and soups.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The leaves and the flowering plant are carminative and digestive.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in moist or wet soils.

Where It Grows

Bahamas, Canada, Cuba, Haiti, Lesser Antilles, North America, Puerto Rico, USA, Virgin Islands, West Indies,

Propagation

Sow seed outdoors in a shady seedbed in April, then plant out in autumn or spring. Propagate also by division.

Other Uses

None known

Notes

There are about 160 Cardamine species. They are mostly in damp places in temperate regions.

References (6)

Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 82
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 182
MacKinnon, A., et al, 2009, Edible & Medicinal Plants of Canada. Lone Pine. p 216
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Plants of Haiti Smithsonian Institute http://botany.si.edu

Show all 6 references