Lyre-leaved Rock Cress (Arabidopsis lyrata)


     The Lyre-leaved Rock Cress is a native, biennial wildflower that grows four to 15 inches tall. It has loose clusters of flowers at the end of branching stems. The flowers are up to 1/4-inch across with four rounded petals and six stamens. The leaves are mostly basal with a few leaves widely spaced along the stem. The stem leaves are about an inch long and narrow, mostly toothless, hairless and stalkless. The basal leaves are up to two inches long with short stiff hairs and a large lobe at the tip. Also, there is usually at least one pair of short, oblong lateral lobes. The basal leaves are usually gone by flowering time. It grows in part shade or sun in dry, sandy or rocky soil found in dunes, cliffs, prairies, and open woodlands. (EW)