Cardamine resedifolia Mignonette-leaved Bittercress
Obviously a Cardamine species, this little alpine could only really be distinguished from others by its leaves which are usually spoon shaped. It will grow in wet crevices even up to 10,000 feet in various European mountains from the Sierra Nevada through the Alps, Apennines to the Balkan mountains.
This plant is tolerant of rocks containing heavy metals and in particular is capable of accumulating Nickel. It is thought that plants which do this give themselves protection against pathogens and grazing by animals or insects (Boyd et. al. 1994).
|
| Cardamine resedifolia Mignonette-leaved Bittercress |
Bernina Alps above Pontresina, Engadine, Switzerland 5th July 2010
Added on 30th July 2010, updated 12th Nov 2014