Cardamine bilobata
Common name
A native bittercress
Synonyms
None
Family
Brassicaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
CARBIL
Chromosome number
2n = 48
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley.
2018 | Threatened – Nationally Critical
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Data Deficient
Distribution
Endemic to the eastern South Island. North-west Nelson and east of the main divide.
Habitat
Mainly low alpine 900-1500m altitude. Usually in fellfield, on moraine or scree edges, or rock crevices, also damp places in tussock grassland.
Features
Low-growing herb with single rosettes or in small clumps. Leaves deeply three lobed, sometimes with additional pair of leaflets; dull green to purplish, thin, fleshy, hairless. Flower stems sparsely branched, hairless, up to 30cm tall. Flowers large, white, about 8mm across, 4-petalled with 6 stamens. Seeds up to 1mm long, pale brown, oblong, in slender linear pods up to 2.5cm long.
Similar taxa
Cardamine corymbosa Hook.f., and C. aff. bilobata. From C. corymbosa it differs by its larger fruits, and three lobed leaves. C. aff. bilobata differs by its entire, unlobed leaves.
Flowering
January to February
Flower colours
White
Fruiting
January to February
Life cycle
Seeds are dispersed by ballistic projection, water and attachment (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed.
Threats
Based on herbarium evidence it would seem that the species was more widespread and common than it is now. Being a cress it is highly palatable, and it may have declined as a result of browsing pressure. The species is also considered to be quite elusive (P.B. Heenan pers. comm.) and is rarely seen even in apparently suitable habitat.
Etymology
cardamine: From the Greek name kárdamon, referring to an Indian spice
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by P.J. de Lange for NZPCN (1 June 2013).
References and further reading
Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009: Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11(4): 285-309.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Cardamine bilobata Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/cardamine-bilobata/ (Date website was queried)