Cardamine rotundifolia

Michx.

American water cress, Round-leaved cuckoo flowers, Mountain water cress

Brassicaceae Edible: Leaves 174 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Cardamine rotundifolia, also known as American bittercress or mountain bittercress, is a perennial herbaceous brassica native to eastern North America. It was first described by André Michaux in his publication Flora Boreali-Americana (1803).

Description

A cabbage family herb. It forms mats. It has leafy runners. The flowers are white.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and have a hot, watercress-like flavour.

Traditional Uses

The young and tender leaves are eaten raw in salads. The older leaves are cooked and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

North America, USA,

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils so long as they are not dry. Grows wild in shallow water. Prefers a moist humus rich soil in shade or semi-shade. A mat-forming stoloniferous species.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in a cold frame; germination typically occurs within 1–3 weeks at 15°C. Once large enough to handle, prick seedlings into individual pots and grow on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame for the first two years, planting out when dormant in late summer. Divide in early spring or after the plant dies back in summer. Larger clumps can go directly into permanent positions, while smaller ones should be potted up and grown on in a cold frame until well rooted before planting out in spring.

Other Uses

None known

Notes

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

Also Known As

Mountain watercress

References (6)

Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 82
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 57
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 161
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/

Show all 6 references