Cardamine flagellifera O.E. Schulz. Common name: Large-flowered Blue Ridge Bittercress. Phenology: Mar-May; Jun-Jul. Habitat: In seepages, on streambanks, and in moist cove or bottomland forests, mainly at moderate to low elevations. Distribution: C. flagellifera is endemic to the Southern Appalachians of w. NC, SC, e. TN, GA, VA, and WV.
Taxonomy Comments: Cardamine flagellifera is completely distinct from C. clematitis, as pointed out by Dudley (1974). Rollins's division of Cardamine flagellifera into two varieties (following Small's recognition of two species) needs further evaluation. Var. flagellifera is alleged to have petals 6-9 mm long, stamens shorter than the petals by 1 mm or more, sepals 3-4 mm long, and filaments obviously flattened, vs. (in var. hugeri) petals 4-6 mm long, stamens equaling to slightly exceeding the petals, sepals 2.5-3.5 mm long, and filaments terete to somewhat flattened.
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, FNA7, K4, S13, Tn, Va, W, Al-Shehbaz (1988a); < Cardamine clematitis Shuttlew. ex A.Gray — F, G, GW2, RAB, misapplied; > Cardamine flagellifera O.E.Schulz — S; > Cardamine flagellifera O.E.Schulz var. flagellifera — Rollins (1993); > Cardamine flagellifera O.E.Schulz var. hugeri (Small) Rollins — Rollins (1993); > Cardamine hugeri Small — S. Basionym: Cardamine flagellifera O.E.Schulz 1903
Links to other floras: = Cardamine flagellifera - FNA7
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 2
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial with stolons found in seepages, on stream banks, and in moist cove or bottomland forests, mainly at moderate to low elevations.
Stems: Stems hairy below, often purplish.
Leaves: Basal leaves oval to round, petiolate, divided into 1-2 pairs of rounded leaflets plus a terminal leaflet, usually purple beneath. Stem leaves 2-5 in a whorl, each divided into 3-5 toothed or lobed oval or round leaflets.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers on ascending stalks in a short terminal raceme, white, about ½ in. wide when fully open, consisting of 4 oval petals.
Fruits: Fruit a thin, linear, green pod; pods ripen on lower flower stalks while upper flowers are still blooming.
Comments: C. flagellifera var. hugeri is sometimes recognized for its smaller petals and sepals.
Height: 4-10 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial with stolons found in seepages, on stream banks, and in moist cove or bottomland forests, mainly at moderate to low elevations.
stems: Stems hairy below, often purplish.
leaves: Basal leaves oval to round, petiolate, divided into 1-2 pairs of rounded leaflets plus a terminal leaflet, usually purple beneath. Stem leaves 2-5 in a whorl, each divided into 3-5 toothed or lobed oval or round leaflets.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers on ascending stalks in a short terminal raceme, white, about ½ in. wide when fully open, consisting of 4 oval petals.
fruits: Fruit a thin, linear, green pod; pods ripen on lower flower stalks while upper flowers are still blooming.
comments: C. flagellifera var. hugeri is sometimes recognized for its smaller petals and sepals.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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