Large bittercress
Scientific name: Cardamine amara L.
Family: Brassicaceae
MORPHOLOGY
Growth habit and size: Perennial herbaceous plant with gemmating stolons covered with hairs (1-4 mm in diameter) and an oblique rhizome (1-1.8 mm in diameter), ranging from 15 to 90 cm in height.
Stem: Erect, flexuous, and striated stem covered with short hairs (0.5-1 mm) in the lower half, usually bearing 8-18(20) leaves.
Leaves: Basal leaves form a gemmating rosette from the stolon; petiolate, imparipinnate, pinnate with 3-5 segments. The largest apical leaflet is obovate-reniform in shape with a margin ± ciliate (3) – 8-10 cm. Cauline leaves are subsessile with a short petiole and 3-(11) lanceolate-orbicular segments. They have a cuneate or subtruncate base with a reniform apical leaflet and (3)-10(18) cm long.
Flowers: Inflorescence forming a short raceme with 12-25(35) flowers with erect-patent pedicels that elongate at anthesis (10-15(20) mm. Yellowish sepals (2.5) 3-3.8 mm, the lateral ones having a sac-like base. White petals or rarely pink-flecked (longer than the calyx) are 7-9 mm. Blooms from April to August.
Fruits and seeds: The fruit is a violet silique of 20-36 x (0.9)1-1.3(1.6) mm, appressed and longer than the peduncle with slight ribbing at the top. Brown-greenish seeds of 0.9-1.4 x 0.7-1 mm, arranged in a row.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
It grows from Tuscany northwards throughout Northern Italy, from 600 to 2,500 m. It thrives in humid places in shady areas.
USE
The basal rosettes are good for making mixed salads. When the leaves are young and eaten raw, they have diuretic, anti-anemic, and purifying effects. In ethnopharmacology, it is recognized for its antidiabetic, antiscorbutic (due to the presence of vitamin C), antilithiasis biliary, and respiratory tract decongestant properties, largely due to the presence of an alkaloid “glyconasturzine” and other sulfur-containing substances. Before taking any plant-based product (medicinal or non-medicinal) for therapeutic or similar purposes, it is always advisable to consult a doctor.
Photo: Kindly provided by Claudio Farinati
