Cardamine pensylvanica plant. David G. Smith. discoverlife.org (Accessed 11/2017).

Cardamine pensylvanica is an annual to biennial to 60 cm tall, stem stiffly hairy (hispid) below. 

Leaves alternate, pinnate, terminal leaflet rounded, to 2 cm wide, stem leaves to 8 cm long, leaflets oval, to 0.8 cm; basal leaves few to none. 

Flowers white, 4-parted, petals to 0.4 cm long. 

Fruit dry, capsules linear, to 3 cm long; blooming and fruiting April-June; seeds germinating in late summer and fall. 

Wetland status: OBL. 

Frequency in NYC: Very infrequent. 

Origin: Native. 

Habitat: Wet to moist soil, pH 4.8-6.8. Cardamine species are host to the larvae of the falcate orangetip butterfly, Anthocharis midea (Pieridae). Very similar to C. hirsuta, which is much more common.