Austrian cress
Rorippa austriaca (Crantz) Besser
Rorippa austriaca, known as Austrian cress, is a flowering plant in the Brassicaceae family. It is native to parts of Europe and Asia and has been introduced to North America, where it is sometimes considered a noxious weed. The plant grows in disturbed and wet habitats, including roadsides and mudflats. It is a perennial herb that can reach up to one meter in height, with hairless blue-green lance-shaped leaves and mustard-like yellow flowers. The plant reproduces primarily through vegetative growth and has an aggressive root system that spreads clonally.
Description
Rorippa austriaca is a member of the Brassicaceae family and is commonly referred to as Austrian cress. It is native to Europe and Asia and has been introduced to North America. It is often found in disturbed areas and wetlands. The plant is perennial, with an upright to erect growth habit. Its leaves are lance-shaped, up to 10 cm long, and the upper leaves clasp the stem. The inflorescence is a raceme with small yellow petals. The fruit is a plump silique, though many plants do not produce seeds, relying instead on vegetative reproduction. The root system is particularly aggressive, allowing the plant to spread clonally.
Other common names
Austrian Yellow-cressAustrian yellowcressAustrian Field CressAustrian Yellow CressAustrian cressAustrian fieldcressfield yellowcress
Distribution
Alberta · Manitoba · Saskatchewan · Palaearctic · TW · Belgium · Brussels-Capital Region · Flemish Region · Walloon Region · France · The Netherlands · Great Britain · GB · IT · French Southern and Antarctic Lands Terres australes et antarctiques françaises (TAAF) · NO · DK · KG · BY · Belarus · Estonia · Latvia · Lithuania · Corse (Corsica) · Denmark · Finland · Ireland · Italy · Netherlands · Norway
Synonyms
Leiolobium austriacumMyagrum austriacumMyagrum crantziiNasturtium brachylobusNasturtium austriacumRorippa austriacaArmoracia austriacaBrachiolobos austriacusBrachiolobos hybridusCamelina austriacaChamaelinum austriacumCochlearia altaicaCochlearia armoraciaCochlearia austriacaCochlearia austriacaCochlearia microcarpaCrucifera roripaRadicula austriacaBrachylobus austriacusRorippa astylis f. repensCardamine austriaca
