Thale Cress, Mouseear cress
Arabidopsis thaliana

Family: Brassicaceae or Cruciferae

What it is like

Thale Cress or Mouse-ear cress is an annual flowering plant found on walls and banks, hedgerows and waste places. It has minor medicinal uses. It is a useful model plant for understanding the genetic, cellular, and molecular biology of flowering plants. Also known as arabidopsis

Arabidopsis thaliana is a ANNUAL/BIENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in). It is in flower from April to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Height (m): 0.5

Where it is found

Walls and banks, hedgerows and waste places, and on dry soils.

Most of Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa and temperate Asia to Japan.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 1

The plant is used to cure sores in the mouth.

Mouthwash: Treats problems such as mouth ulcers.

Other

Rating: 1

Widely used for studying plant sciences, including genetics, evolution, population genetics, and plant development. Although A. thaliana has little direct significance for agriculture, it has several traits that make it a useful model for understanding the genetic, cellular, and molecular biology of flowering plants.

How it is grown

We have no specific information on the cultivation needs of this species. It will probably grow best in a reasonably sunny position, tolerating dry and poor soils. Please see the plants native habitat for further ideas on its cultivation needs.

Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in situ.

Best place to grow: Hedgerow; East Wall. In. South Wall. In. West Wall. In.

Habit: Annual/Biennial

Hardiness: 0-0

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

This plant can be weedy or invasive. Noted as a weed in Kentucky, US.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Arabis thaliana.