Flora of New Zealand Series

field cress

Annual or biennial. Stem erect, branched above, hairy, (10)-20-45 cm tall. Lvs hairy. Basal lvs mostly withering before fls open, narrow oblanceolate, lyrate-pinnatifid, rarely entire, c. 3-5 × 0.5-1 cm; petiole < or = lamina. Stem lvs suberect, narrowly triangular, sessile, 10-30-(60) × 2-10 mm, with narrow pointed amplexicaul basal lobes; margin with short coarse teeth or entire. Racemes (5)-10-15 cm long; rachis densely hairy; pedicels densely hairy, spreading, 4-6 mm long at fruiting. Sepals glabrous or hairy, c. 1 × 0.5 mm. Petals white, clawed, 1.5-2 × c. 1 mm. Stamens 6. Silicle oblong, notched, 5-6 × c. 4 mm; lower part of style connate with the broad wing, upper part free for c. 0.5 mm, not or slightly protruding from the short apical notch; valves covered with small scale-like papillae. Seeds very dark brown, ovoid, 2-2.5 mm long.

N.: Auckland, Waikato, Wairarapa; S.: Canterbury, Otago, Southland.

Europe 1875

Roadsides, waste land, stream beds, arable land, pasture.

Field cress may be distinguished from Smith's cress by its yellow anthers.