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Cochlearia danica
Scientific Name: Cochlearia danica
Family: Brassicaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Danish Scurvygrass (Cochlearia danica)
Cochlearia danica, commonly known as Danish Scurvygrass, is a flowering plant belonging to the Mustard family.
Considerations for Pets
- This is a low growing plant.
- It is an annual growing to 0.2m (0ft 8in).
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Cochlearia danica L.
- Family: Brassicaceae (also known as Cruciferae or the Mustard Family)
- Rank: Species
- Synonyms/Alternative Names: Danish Scurvy-grass, Danish Scurvy Grass, Early Scurvy-grass
Distribution and Habitat
- Originally a coastal plant, Cochlearia danica has spread inland.
- It is salt-tolerant and often found along salt-treated roads, particularly in Britain and Northern Ireland.
- It prefers sandy ground and can also be found in marshes, dunes, and on dikes.
- The first record of its presence in Worcestershire, England, was in 1977 at a disused brine pit.
Ecological Role
- The spread of Cochlearia danica inland is linked to the increased use of salt on roads.
- It has not spread in S. Ireland, where grit, rather than salt, is used on roads.
Morphological Characteristics
- It is a low to short plant.
- It flowers from May to June, and the seeds ripen from June to August.
- Flowers are small, 4-6 mm across, with four white petals (though pale mauve flowers are also noted).
- Basal leaves are long-stalked and rounded to triangular-heart shaped.
- Upper stem leaves are stalked, with the lower stem leaves having 3 to 7 lobes.
- Grows up to 20 cm tall.
Hybridization
- Cochlearia danica hybridizes with Common Scurvygrass (Cochlearia officinalis) to produce Cochlearia danica x officinalis.
Further Information
- Specimens of Cochlearia danica are held in various herbaria, including Herb Smith (LINN-HS 1114.12.1) and Herb Linn (LINN 826.2).
- Multimedia resources are available on Wikimedia Commons.
- Expert identification was provided by Ihsan A. Al-Shehbaz, Senior Curator at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
- Search for Cochlearia danica on The Plant List, IPNI, Australian Plant Name Index, NYBG Virtual Herbarium, and Musum.