lyre-leaved rock cress

(Arabidopsis lyrata ssp. lyrata)

Conservation Status
lyre-leaved rock cress
 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
Wetland Indicator Status
     
  Midwest

FACU - Facultative upland

     
  Northcentral & Northeast

FACU - Facultative upland

     
           
 
Description
 
 

Lyre-leaved rock cress is a 4 to 16 tall, erect, biennial or perennial forb that rises from a taproot rhizome.

The stems are upright or ascending, branched from the base. The lower stem is covered with coarse, stiff hairs.

Basal leaves are lyre-shaped, with a large terminal lobe and lateral lobes progressively smaller toward the base. There is a pair of ear-shaped lobes at the base of the leaf. The leaves are ¾ to 1½ long and form a rosette.

Stem leaves are alternate, linear or narrowly spatula-shaped, widest at the blunt tip, narrowing to the base. The lowest stem leaves may have a few short teeth or lobes, the remaining are unlobed and untoothed. They are attached to the stem without leaf stalks.

The inflorescence is a short, loose, branched cluster at the end of the stem and branches.

The flowers are ¼ to ½ wide, with 4 white to greenish-white petals. They are on ¼ to long, ascending, flower stalks. The petals are to long, much longer than the sepals. There are 6 stamens.

The fruit is a thin, flat pod, ¾ to 1¾ long, on a ¼ to long stalk, spreading outward and pointing upward.

 
     
 

Height

 
 

4 to 16

 
     
 

Flower Color

 
 

White or greenish white

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
 

The rosette of lyre-shaped basal leaves, linear stem leaves, and large flowers are diagnostic for this species.

Mouse-ear cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) basal leaves are unlobed. The flowers are much smaller.

 
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Dry. Woods, fields, sand dunes.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Flowering

 
 

April to July

 
     
 

Pests and Diseases

 
 

 

 
     
 

Defense Mechanisms

 
 

This and other mustards (family Brassicaceae) produce chemical compounds when cells are damaged that are toxic to most animals, fungi, and bacteria.

 
     
 
Use
 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 24, 28, 30.

 
  4/30/2022      
         
 

Nativity

 
 

Native

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

 

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)  
  Subclass Rosidae  
  Superorder Rosanae  
 

Order

Brassicales (mustards, capers, and allies)  
 

Family

Brassicaceae (mustard)  
  Tribe Camelineae  
 

Genus

Arabidopsis (rock cress)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

 

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Arabis lyrata

Arabis lyrata var. lyrata

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

lyrate rockcress

lyre-leaf rock-cress

lyre-leaved rock-cress

lyre-leaved rock cress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Ascending

Growing upward at an angle or curving upward from the base.

 

Linear

Long, straight, and narrow, with more or less parallel sides, like a blade of grass.

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Nancy Falkum

 
    lyre-leaved rock cress      
           
 

Bird’s Foot Violet, Hairy Puccoon, and Lyre Leaved Rock Cress

 
    birdfoot violet      
 

Greg Watson

 
    lyre-leaved rock cress      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Plant

 
    lyre-leaved rock cress      
           
 

Inflorescence

 
    lyre-leaved rock cress      

 

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Slideshows
 
 
     
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
     
     
     

 

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Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this plant.

 
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  Nancy Falkum
5/27/2022

Location: Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Weaver Dunes Unit

lyre-leaved rock cress  
  Greg Watson
4/29/2022

Location: Vetsch Park

lyre-leaved rock cress  
  Nancy Falkum
5/9/2017

Location: Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Weaver Dunes Unit

Bird’s Foot Violet, Hairy Puccoon, and Lyre Leaved Rock Cress

birdfoot violet  
  Laura Dekeyrel
4/7/2016

Location: Perrot State Park, Trempealeau WI

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

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