About Cardamine oligosperma Nutt.
Cardamine oligosperma Nutt. is an annual or biennial herb that grows from a taproot. It produces one or more upright, branching stems that reach 8 to 50 centimeters, or 3 to 18 inches, in height. Its leaves are divided into many leaflets. The plant typically forms a large basal leaf rosette, with smaller leaves growing higher on the stem; each of these leaves holds 5 to 9 nearly round leaflets. It blooms most prominently in early spring and early autumn. Its inflorescence is several centimeters long, and holds many flowers with white petals just a few millimeters in length. The fruit is a silique, a seed pod, that can grow up to 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) long, and contains 15 to 22 seeds. This species is native to western North America, ranging from Alaska to California to Colorado, where it grows in moist mountain habitats. When touched, the plant often ejects its seeds, which can cause irritation if they come into contact with the eyes. Younger, more succulent plants are far less likely to hold mature seeds. The leaves of Cardamine oligosperma are edible raw, and other tender parts of the plant can be cooked, though they have also been eaten raw.
