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Cardamine is a large genus of flowering plants in the mustard family, Brassicaceae, known as bittercresses and toothworts. It contains more than 200 species of annuals and perennials.<ref name=powo/> Species in this genus can be found in diverse habitats worldwide, except the Antarctic.<ref name=powo/> The name Cardamine is derived from the Greek kardaminē, water cress, from kardamon, pepper grass.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
DescriptionEdit
The leaves can have different forms, from minute to medium in size. They can be simple, pinnate or bipinnate. They are basal and cauline (growing on the upper part of the stem), with narrow tips. They are rosulate (forming a rosette). The blade margins can be entire, serrate or dentate. The stem internodes lack firmness.Template:Clarification needed
The radially symmetrical flowers grow in a racemose many-flowered inflorescence or in corymbs. The white, pink or purple flowers are minute to medium-sized. The petals are longer than the sepals. The fertile flowers are hermaphroditic.Template:Citation needed
TaxonomyEdit
The genus Cardamine was first formally named in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum.<ref name=ipni/> Template:As of, there are 264 accepted species in Kew's Plants of the World Online database.<ref name=powo/>
The genus name Dentaria is a commonly used synonym for some species of Cardamine.
SpeciesEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Select species include:<ref name=powo/> Template:Columns-list
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EcologyEdit
This plantTemplate:Clarification needed is also used as one of the main food sources for the butterfly Pieris oleracea.<ref>Template:Cite thesis</ref>Template:Page needed
UsesEdit
The roots of most species are edible raw.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Some species were reputed to have medicinal qualities (treatment of heart or stomach ailments).
ReferencesEdit
BibliographyEdit
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