2. D. laciniàta, Muhl. Tubers deep-seated, usually not jointed nor prominently tubercled; root-leaves often none; stem-leaves 3-parted, the lateral segments often 2-lobed, all broadly oblong to linear, more or less gash-toothed; flowers white or rose-color.—N. Eng. to Minn., Kan., and southward. April, May.—Var. multífida, a slender form with the narrowly linear segments usually more or less divided into linear lobes. (D. multifida, Muhl.) Southward, scarcely if at all within our limits.
3. D. heterophýlla, Nutt. Tubers near the surface, jointed, narrowly oblong or thick-clavate, prominently tubercled; leaves 3-foliolate, the leaflets distinctly petiolate, oblong-lanceolate to linear, entire to rather deeply crenate, rarely laciniate or lobed; root-leaves with ovate or lanceolate and usually lobed leaflets.—Penn. to Ky. and southward. Blooming a little later than the last.
4. D. máxima, Nutt. Tubers jointed, strongly tubercled; stem-leaves usually alternate, 3-foliolate; leaflets ovate or oblong-ovate, coarsely toothed and somewhat cleft or lobed.—Vt. to western N. Y. and Penn. May.
4. CARDAMÌNE, Tourn. Bitter Cress.
Pod linear, flattened, usually opening elastically from the base; the valves nerveless and veinless, or nearly so; placentas and partition thick. Seeds in a single row in each cell, wingless; their stalks slender. Cotyledons accumbent, flattened, equal or nearly so, petiolate.—Mostly glabrous perennials, leafy-stemmed, growing along watercourses and in wet places. Flowers white or purple. (A Greek name, in Dioscorides, for some cress, from its cordial or cardiacal qualities.)
[*] Root perennial; leaves simple.
1. C. rhomboídea, DC. (Spring Cress.) Stems upright from a tuberous base and slender rootstock bearing small tubers, simple; root-leaves round and often heart-shaped; lower stem-leaves ovate or rhombic-oblong, somewhat petioled, the upper almost lanceolate, sessile, all often sparingly toothed; pods linear-lanceolate, pointed with a slender style tipped with a conspicuous stigma; seeds round-oval.—Wet meadows and springs; common. April–June.—Flowers large, white.
Var. purpùrea, Torr. Lower (4–6´ high), and usually slightly pubescent; flowers rose-purple, appearing earlier.—Along streams in rich soil. Western N. Y. to Md. and Wisc.
2. C. rotundifòlia, Michx. (Mountain Water-Cress.) Stems branching, weak or decumbent, making long runners; root fibrous; leaves all much alike, roundish, somewhat angled, often heart-shaped at the base, petioled; pods small, linear-awl-shaped, pointed with the slender style; stigma minute; seeds oval-oblong.—Cool shaded springs, N. J. (Middletown, Willis) to Ky., and southward along the mountains. May, June.—Flowers white, smaller than in n. 1.
3. C. bellidifòlia, L. Dwarf (2–3´ high), alpine, tufted; leaves ovate, entire, or sometimes with a blunt lateral tooth (4´´ long), on long petioles; pods 1´ long, upright, linear; style nearly none, stout.—Summits of the White Mountains and Katahdin, Maine. July.—Flowers 1–5, white. (Eu.)