Cardamine bellidifolia L.
alpine bittercress (alpine bitter-cress)
Brassicaceae (Mustard family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Ryan Batten     (Photo ID #23795)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Cardamine bellidifolia
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
More or less tufted, perennial herb from a taproot and often a branched stem-base with somewhat rhizome-like branches, leaf bases persistent; stems several, few-leaved, 2-10 cm long, glabrous.
Leaves:
Basal leaves in rosettes, thick, fleshy, entire or shallowly 1-3 lobed, blades 5-30 mm long, diamond-shaped to elliptic to egg-shaped, narrowed to slender stalks 2-4 times as long; stem leaves 0-3, reduced.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a few-flowered, umbel-like raceme; flower stalks 4-10 mm long, ascending; petals white, 3-5 mm long; sepals 1.5-2 mm long.
Fruits:
Siliques, erect, 1.5-3.5 cm long, 1-1.5 mm wide; styles stout, 1-3 mm long.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Cardamine bellidifolia

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

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
1762 1330 2590
Slope Gradient (%)
21 2 100

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

77 20 350
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
3 1 5
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
B
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
21
Modal BEC Zone Class
BAFA

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

BAFA(17), cma(1), ESSF(1), IMA(2)

Habitat and Range

Moist scree slopes, gravelly areas and mossy rocks in the upper montane to alpine zones; frequent in N BC, rare southward and on Vancouver Island; circumpolar, E to NF and S to ME, NH and N CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia