SafePlants

Cardamine constancei - Constance's Bittercress

Cardamine constancei, commonly known as Constance's bittercress, is a rare and sensitive plant species belonging to the mustard family.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Cardamine constancei Detling
• Common Name: Constance's bittercress
• Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard family)
• Synonyms: The provided text lists Cardamine constancei Detling as a synonym for Constance's Bittercress.

Distribution and Habitat

• Constance's bittercress is endemic to specific areas, including coastal disjunct habitats.
• It is found in small populations, particularly in areas that are core refugia.
• Specific mention is given to its presence in the North Fork Ranger District, Clearwater National Forest, and areas studied by Brunsfeld and Sullivan.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Constance's bittercress is described as a rhizomatous forb/herb, a non-woody plant that is not a grass.
• It is a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years.

Ecological Role

• The text mentions Constance's bittercress as a sensitive plant species.
• It is endemic to certain areas, thriving in coastal disjunct habitats.

Genetic Information

• Mentioned in context of phylogeographic studies involving chloroplast lineages to understand the distribution of this restricted endemic plant (Cardamine constancei).

Additional Cardamine Species

• Cardamine amara (Large Bitter-cress)
• Cardamine cordifolia (Heartleaf Bittercress, Large Mountain Bittercress)
• Cardamine flexuosa (Woodland Bittercress)
• Cardamine bulbosa (Bulbous Bittercress, Spring Cress)

Further Information

• Discover Life offers a page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Cardamine constancei.