Paddy water-cress, Shui tian sui mi qi
Cardamine lyrata

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb. It grows up to 70 cm tall. It has creeping runners. The leaves are of 2 forms. Those on the creeping stems are simple and oval and wavy along the edges. The leaves along the stems are compound with leaflets along the stems. The leaves are alternate and 5 cm long. They are rounded or kidney shaped and let light through. The leaf stalks are thin. The flowers are small and have white petals. The pods are narrow and compressed. They are 3 cm long by 2 mm wide. They have a beak. The seeds are in a row. They are 2 mm long and have wings.

There are about 160 Cardamine species. They are mostly in damp places in temperate regions.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in moist places, stream sides from near sea level to 1000 m. altitude in China. It needs a temperature of 16-20°C. It needs good light. It can grow in water. It grows in wetlands. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Siberia

How it is used for food

The young shoot are eaten as a potherb.

Edible parts

Leaves, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cardamine argyi H. Léveillé;