bittercress

Thân thiện

A small cluster of bittercress grows beside a garden path.

Definition

Noun: 1. A small, herbaceous plant of the genus Cardamine: Bittercress refers to any of various small, often weedy herbs belonging to the genus Cardamine, characterized by typically pinnate leaves (leaves with leaflets arranged on opposite sides of a common stalk) and clusters (racemes) of small white, pink, or purple flowers. These plants are found worldwide, except in Antarctica.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The gardener worked to remove the invasive bittercress from the flower beds.
  • In early spring, you can often find bittercress growing in damp, shady areas.
  • Some species of bittercress have leaves with a peppery, bitter taste.

Advanced Usage

• As a common name: "Bittercress" is a collective common name for many species. Specific types often have more precise common names, such as "hairy bittercress" () or "lady's smock" ().

Variants and Related Words

• Hairy bittercress (): A very common annual species, often considered a garden weed.
• Cuckooflower / Lady's smock (): A perennial species native to meadows and damp ground in Europe and Asia.
• Toothwort (): A North American species of bittercress.
• Genus Cardamine: The scientific genus name for all bittercress plants.

Synonyms

• Pepperweed (for some related species in the broader mustard family)
• Cardamine (the scientific genus name, used technically)

Related Terms & Context

• Brassicaceae family: Bittercress is a member of the Brassicaceae or mustard family, which includes cabbage, broccoli, and mustard. Many plants in this family have a characteristic pungent or peppery flavor.
• Winter annual: Many bittercress species, like hairy bittercress, are winter annuals, germinating in autumn, growing through winter, and flowering in early spring.

Học thuật

Noun

1. any of various herbs of the genus Cardamine, having usually pinnate leaves and racemes of white, pink or purple flowers; cosmopolitan except Antarctic

Từ đồng nghĩa

• bitter cress