Lesser swinecress, Twin cress
Lepidium didymum

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb. It grows 10-70 cm high. It grows for one or two years. It is often a spreading plant lying along the ground. The stems have many branches. The stems are covered with fine long hairs. The stem leaves are divided into leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets vary. The leaves are 2-5 cm long. The leaves are alternate. The plant has a smell like cress when crushed. The flowers are at the end of the plant. The flowers are very small. They may only be 1.5-2 mm across. They have 4 petals. The fruit have 2 rounded sections like two balls close together. These seed pods are 2 mm wide.

There are 10 Coronopus species. Now Lepidium didymum.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on roadsides, waste areas, fields; near sea level to 1000 m altitude in China. It grows between 1,350-2,800 m in the tropics. In Argentina it grows between sea level and 2,900 m above sea level. It can tolerate salty soils. It often grows near mangroves. It can grow in arid places. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Antilles, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azores, Bahamas, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Britain, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Chile, China, Congo, Czech Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Falklands, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guiana, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Korea, Madagascar, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, NW India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Slovakia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, St Helena, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Tonga, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves have a pungent taste and are used in salads and sandwiches. The plant can be made more edible by extensive boiling.

Edible parts

Leaves, stems, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Anatsingita, Bitter cress, Calachin, Cervellina, Gangly, Hallian, Lesser wart-cress, Mastuerzo, Mestruz, Mintruiz, Mistruiz, Quimpe, Tsingita, Vranozka podvojna

Synonyms

Biscutella apetala Walter; Carara didyma (L.) Britton; Cochlearia humifusa Michx.; Coronopus didymus (L.) Sm.; Coronopus didymus (L.) Smith var. incisa (Willd.) Hook.; Coronopus heleniana (DC.) Spreng.; Coronopus incisus (Willd.) Hornem.; Coronopus pectinatus (DC.) Kuntze; Coronopus pinnatifidus Dulac; Senebiera integrifolia de Candolle; Lepidium didymum Linnaeus; Senebiera didyma (Linnaeus) Persoon; Senebiera incisa Willd.; Senebiera pinnatifida de Candolle; Senebiera coronopus Poir.; ? and others