Nakedstem wallflower
Parrya nudicaulis

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A herb that keeps growing from year to year. The stem is up to 25 cm high. It has bristly glands. The root can be 25 cm long. The leaves are at the base. They are 5-10 cm long. They are oval but more broad towards the upper end. They can have coarse teeth. The flowers have 4 white or purple petals. There are several flowers together in a cluster at the top of the plant. The fruit is a flat pod with wavy edges. It is 3-5 cm long and tapers at both ends.

Where it is found

It is a cold temperate plant. It grows on gravel and peat covered beaches along the coast. In China it is in western China between 2,200-2,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Alaska, Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, North America, Northeastern India, Russia, Sikkim, Tibet, USA

How it is used for food

The roots are cooked and used with meat or fish in stews. The new young leaves are eaten. They are also stored in seal oil.

Edible parts

Roots, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Parry's wallflower

Synonyms

Achoriphragma ajanense (N. Busch) Sojak; Achoriphragma nudicaule (L.) Sojak; Arabis nudicaulis (L.) DC.; Cardamine articulata Pursh; Cardamine nudicaulis L.; Cheiranthus scapiger Adams; Hesperis arabidiflora DC.; Hesperis scapigera (Adams) Dc.; Matthiola nudicaulis (L.) Trautv.; Neuroloma ajanense (N. Busch) Botsch.; Neuroloma arabidiflorum (DC.) DC. Neuroloma scapigerum (Adams) DC.; Neuroloma speciosum Stued.; Parrya ajanensis N. Busch; Parrya arabidiflora (DC.) Nicholson; Parrya integerrima G. Don; Parrya linnaeana Ledeb.; Parrya macrocarpa R. Br.; Parrya nudicaulis (L.) Regel; Parrya scapigera (Adams) G. Don.;