Cardamine oligosperma

Cardamine oligosperma
Conservation status
	; Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Brassicales
Family:	Brassicaceae
Genus:	Cardamine
Species:	C. oligosperma
Binomial name
	Cardamine oligosperma; Nutt.

Cardamine oligosperma is a species of Cardamine known by the common name little western bittercress, native to western North America.

Description[edit]

C. oligosperma is an annual or biennial herb growing from a taproot. It produces one or more upright, branching stems 8–50 centimeters (3–18 inches).^[2] The leaves are divided into many leaflets. The plant generally has a large basal rosette and smaller leaves further up the stem, each with 5–9 nearly round leaflets.^[2] Most prominently blooming in early spring and early autumn,^[2] the inflorescence is several centimeters long and bears many flowers with white petals just a few millimeters in length. The fruit is a silique (pod) up to 2.5 cm (1 in) long,^{[citation needed]} containing 15–22 seeds.^[2]

New shoot
Leaves closer to base

Taxonomy[edit]

Oligosperma is Greek for 'few seeds'. Common names include snapweed and shotweed for the plant's tendency to throw seeds when touched.^[2]

Distribution and habitat[edit]

It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Colorado, where it grows in moist mountain habitats.

Toxicity[edit]

The plant often throws its seeds when touched, which can cause irritation if they contact the eyes. Younger, more succulent plants are less likely to be carrying seeds.^[2]

Uses[edit]

The leaves are edible raw and other tender parts of the plant can be cooked,^[3] though have also been eaten raw.^[2]

References[edit]

^ NatureServe (2023). "Cardamine oligosperma". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Benoliel, Doug (2011). Northwest Foraging: The Classic Guide to Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest (Rev. and updated ed.). Seattle, WA: Skipstone. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-59485-366-1. OCLC 668195076.
^ Nyerges, Christopher (2017). Foraging Washington: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Foods. Guilford, CT: Falcon Guides. ISBN 978-1-4930-2534-3. OCLC 965922681.

External links[edit]

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[NatureServe-1] NatureServe (2023). "Cardamine oligosperma". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 30 November 2023.

[:0-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Benoliel, Doug (2011). Northwest Foraging: The Classic Guide to Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest (Rev. and updated ed.). Seattle, WA: Skipstone. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-59485-366-1. OCLC 668195076.

[3] Nyerges, Christopher (2017). Foraging Washington: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Foods. Guilford, CT: Falcon Guides. ISBN 978-1-4930-2534-3. OCLC 965922681.

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