Rorippa amphibia

Rorippa amphibia, commonly known as amphibious cress or marsh cress, is a perennial aquatic plant in the Brassicaceae family. Native to North America, it thrives in wetlands, marshes, and shallow water bodies such as ponds and streams. The plant features a slender stem that can reach up to 60 cm in height. Its leaves are oblong or lance-shaped with toothed edges and are alternately arranged along the stem. The small flowers of Rorippa amphibia have four white petals arranged in a cross shape. Amphibious cress is an important food source for waterfowl such as ducks and geese, and it provides habitat for aquatic insects like dragonflies and damselflies. Beyond its ecological significance, Rorippa amphibia has been used for medicinal purposes by Native American tribes. They employed it as an herbal remedy for various ailments, including coughs, colds, sore throats, and headaches, among others. Overall, Rorippa amphibia plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy wetland ecosystems and offers medicinal benefits, making it a valuable plant species both ecologically and culturally.

Characteristics

Plant Type

Herb

Life Cycle

Perennial

Genus

Rorippa

Family

Brassicaceae

Hardiness Zone

5-9

Mature Height

40 cm to 76 cm

Mature Spread

20 cm to 49 cm

Leaf Color

Green, Dark Green

Leaf Type

Semi-evergreen

Flower Color

Yellow

Flower Size

1.02 cm

Bloom Time

Late spring, Early summer, Mid summer

Planting Time

Spring

Harvest Time

Mid summer, Late summer, Early fall

Native Area

Turkey, Sweden, Austria, Slovakia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Russia, Iraq, Germany, Estonia, Romania, Latvia, Belgium, Portugal, Netherlands, France, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Armenia, Poland, Greece, Ukraine, Serbia, Lithuania, Norway, Syria, Italy, Kazakhstan, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Iran, Albania, Ireland, United Kingdom, Hungary, Algeria, Azerbaijan

Tags (6)

Common Names (7)