Pennsylvania Bittercress

Cardamine pensylvanica

car-DAM-ah-knee pen-sill-VAN-ah-cah

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)

Native to: Widespread and presumably native weed

Florida abundance and distribution:  Through the state in moist places. 

Recognition:  Erect weed with alternate irregularly pinnately lobed or pinnately compound leaves, the terminal leaflet as long as or longer than the others, with 3 lobes.  Flowers white with 4 petals.  Fruits long slender pods called silicles.

Other: The plant contains glucosinolates.  When crushed the plant parts give off a “horseradish” odor.

Contributed by: June Wilkinson