Bitter cress
Cardamine sp.
Family: Brassicaceae
What it is like
A cabbage family herb. Probably Cardamine africana L. or maybe Cardamine hirsuta L. A small annual plant which grows up to about 20 cm tall. The flowers have white petals and the pods are 2-3 cm long. (C. africana has thicker pods [3 mm] and 3 leaflets on the leaves. C hirsuta has pods about 1 mm thick and about 7 leaflets per leaf.
There are about 160 Cardamine species. They are mostly in damp places in temperate regions.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. C. africana tends to be above 1500 m and C. hirsuta is often at lower altitudes. They grow naturally especially in moist shaded places around gardens.
Countries/locations it is found in
Pacific, Papua New Guinea
How it is used for food
The leaves and flowers can be eaten.
Edible parts
Flowers, leaves
How it is grown
Plants are self sown from seed.