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rockcress
Scientific Name: Arabidopsis
Family: Brassicaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Rock Cress: A Versatile Ground Cover
Rock Cress is a common name applied to several genera of flowering plants within the Brassicaceae (mustard) family, most notably species within the Arabis and Aubrieta genera.
Considerations for Pets
- Rock Cress is a member of the Brassica family and, while potentially consumable in moderation, contains goitrogens, which can interfere with iodine uptake in tortoises.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Family: Brassicaceae (also known as Cruciferae or the Mustard family)
- Genera: Primarily Arabis and Aubrieta
- Synonyms: Some Rockcress species were historically placed in the genus Sisymbrium.
- Examples:
- Arabis alpina (Alpine Rockcress)
- Arabis caucasica (Wall rock cress or garden arabis)
- Arabis georgiana (Georgia Rockcress)
- Arabis holboellii (Holboell's Rockcress)
- Arabis macdonaldiana (McDonald's rockcress)
- Arabis pulchra (Prince's rock cress or beautiful rock cress)
- Arabis procurrens 'Variegata' (Spreading rock cress 'Variegata')
- Aubrieta deltoidea
- Boechera laevigata (Smooth rockcress)
- Phlebolobium maclovianum (Falkland Rock-cress)
Distribution and Habitat
- Rock Cress is found "all over the U.S., and in other parts of the world, too."
- Specific locations include southeastern Europe (for Arabis caucasica), New England (United States), and Franklin County (where the Rockcress Hills State Nature Preserve is located).
- It thrives in "hot, dry crack[s] between some stones," rock gardens, dry banks, between flagstones, or along pathways.
- Smooth Rockcress (Boechera laevigata) is found in rocky woods, floodplains, and thickets.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Rock Cress forms a low carpet of evergreen leaves.
- It is an herbaceous perennial.
- It produces cushions of purple-blue flowers in spring, sometimes described as "stunning."
- Wall rock cress (Arabis caucasica) can reach 30 cm (1 foot) in height and bears fragrant white flowers.
- Some varieties have tufted rosettes of oval leaves covered with white down.
- General growth habit is described as biennial or short-lived perennial, with 1 to several stems.
Ecological Role
- McDonald's rockcress (Arabis macdonaldiana) is listed as an endangered species.
- Georgia Rockcress is a threatened species with only approximately 5000 plants remaining.
- Holboell's Rockcress (Arabis holboellii) is a favorite of honey bees, providing abundant nectar.
Other Organism Interactions
- Holboell's Rockcress is noted as a "honey bee favorite."
Other Information
- The leaves and flowers of Rock Cress are edible, cooked or raw.
- It can be grown from cuttings or seeds.
- Rock Cress is drought-tolerant and early-flowering.