Annuals; sparsely hirsute basally (at least on petiole of basal leaves), often glabrous distally. Rhizomes absent. Stems erect, ascending, or decumbent, unbranched or branched basally and/or distally, (0.3–) 1–3.5 (–4.5) dm, (not flexuous). Basal leaves (persistent to anthesis), rosulate, (5–) 8–15 (–22) -foliolate, (2–) 3.5–15 (–17) cm, leaflets petiolulate; petiole 0.5–5 cm, (ciliate); lateral leaflet blade oblong, ovate, obovate, or orbicular, smaller than terminal, margins entire, repand, crenate, or 3-lobed; terminal leaflet (petiolule 0.2–1 cm), blade reniform or orbicular, 0.4–2 cm × 6–30 mm, margins entire, repand, dentate, or 3 or 5-lobed. Cauline leaves 1–4 (–6), compound as basal, petiolate, [(0.5–) 1.2–5.5 (–7) cm, including petiole], leaflets petiolulate; blade base not auriculate; leaflets similar to basal. Racemes ebracteate. Fruiting pedicels erect to ascending, (2–) 3–10 (–14) mm. Flowers: sepals oblong, 1.5–2.5 × 0.3–0.7 mm, lateral pair not saccate; petals (sometimes absent) white, spatulate, 2.5–4.5 (–5) × 0.5–1.1 mm; (stamens usually 4, lateral pair often absent, rarely 5 or 6); filaments 1.8–3 mm; anthers ovate, 0.3–0.5 mm. Fruits linear, (torulose), (0.9–) 1.5–2.5 (–2.8) cm × (0.8–) 1–1.4 mm, (often appressed to rachis); ovules 14–40 per ovary; style 0.1–0.6 (–1) mm. Seeds light-brown, oblong or subquadrate, 0.9–1.3 (–1.5) × 0.6–0.9 (–1.1) mm, (narrowly margined). 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering Feb–Jul.
Habitat: Roadsides, clearings, disturbed sites, slopes, cedar glades, mixed woods, meadows, fields, waste grounds, damp places, grassy areas
Elevation: 0-700 m

Distribution

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Introduced; B.C., Ont., Ala., Ark., Calif., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ky., La., Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Oreg., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Va., Wash., W.Va., w Eurasia, also in Central America, South America, e Asia (Japan), South Africa, Australia

Discussion

Herbarium specimens of Cardamine hirsuta have been misidentified as C. oligosperma.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

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