Algae and Plants
55
Cardamine hirsuta (L.)
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Common name: Hairy bittercress.
Distribution: Native to Europe and
Asia, but also present in North America.
Habitat: Wetlands, damp, recently disturbed soil.
Description: This species grows to
no more than 30 cm. It is an annual
plant. Stems are hairless and the leaves
do not clasp the stems. Each leaf generally contains four to eight leaflets
arranged alternately along the rachis.
Flowers occur in racemes. Each flower
has four white petals, generally 3–5 mm
in diameter. Leaves and flowers of this
species are eaten raw or cooked.
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition of Shoot (% DM)
Fat
CHO a
Protein
3.0
8.0
14.4
a Carbohydrate.
Minerals (% DM)
P
N2
K
Na
0.66
0.66
0.44
0.016
Source: Data from Jain et al. (2011).
55
Cardamine hirsuta (L.)
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Common name: Hairy bittercress.
Distribution: Native to Europe and
Asia, but also present in North America.
Habitat: Wetlands, damp, recently disturbed soil.
Description: This species grows to
no more than 30 cm. It is an annual
plant. Stems are hairless and the leaves
do not clasp the stems. Each leaf generally contains four to eight leaflets
arranged alternately along the rachis.
Flowers occur in racemes. Each flower
has four white petals, generally 3–5 mm
in diameter. Leaves and flowers of this
species are eaten raw or cooked.
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition of Shoot (% DM)
Fat
CHO a
Protein
3.0
8.0
14.4
a Carbohydrate.
Minerals (% DM)
P
N2
K
Na
0.66
0.66
0.44
0.016
Source: Data from Jain et al. (2011).