E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Armoracia rusticana G. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb.
common horseradish (horseradish)
Brassicaceae (Mustard family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Jamie Fenneman  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #20471)

E-Flora BC Static Map
Distribution of Armoracia rusticana
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Species Information

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General:
Perennial herb from a deep, swollen, spongy root; stems often branched, 0.6-2.0 m tall, glabrous.
Leaves:
Basal leaves long-stalked, 30-50 cm long, widely egg-shaped to oblong, toothed; stem leaves stalked and unstalked; lower stem leaves like basal ones, middle and upper stem leaves often lobed.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a flat-topped cluster; petals white, short-clawed, 5-7 mm long.
Fruits:
Silicles, about 3 mm wide, flattened perpendicular to the partitions, styles about 0.3 mm long; seeds 4-6 per chamber.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Moist ditches and disturbed areas in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; rare garden escape in S BC; introduced from Eurasia.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Armoracia rusticana

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Minimum

Average

Maximum

Elevation (metres) 1110 1125 1140
Slope Gradient (%) 0 2 5
Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]
240 239 240
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
6 6 6
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
D
Number of field plots
 species was recorded in:
2
Modal BEC Zone Class
SBS
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in: SBS(2)

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is not evaluated, unknown or variable.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Armoracia armoracia (L.) Britt.
Armoracia lapathifolia
Cochlearia armoracia L.
Nasturtium armoracia (L.) Fries
Radicula armoracia (L.) B.L. Robins.
Rorippa armoracia (L.) A.S. Hitchc.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References