Cedar Creek Natural History Area

Plants of Cedar Creek

Most representatives of the Mustard Family (Crucifers) are weedy species.  Ten of the 18 species found on the Area are introduced, but even our native species are rather weedy.  Most are  found at homesites, gardens, ditches, weedy old fields and other disturbed areas.  Introduced species include:  Barbarea vulgaris (Yellow Rocket ), Berteroa incana (Hoary Alyssum), Brassica kaber (Wild Mustard), Capsella bursa-pastoris (Shepherd’s Purse), Erysimum chieranthoides and E. inconspicuum (Wormseed Mustards), Hesperis matronalis (Dame’s Rocket),  Sisymbrium altissimum and S. officinale (Tumble Mustards).  Nasturtium officinale (Water Cress) is an aggressive floating aquatic in the spring near Reiling's Fen.

Native mustards include two species of  Lepidium  (PepperGrass).  L. densiflorum is common in old fields and disturbed areas, while L. virginicum might occasionally be found on roadsides or gardens.  Four species of native Arabis (Rock Cress) include:  A. divaricarpa, a common species of old fields; two uncommon field species A. glabra and A. hirsuta; A. lyrata is a delicate species restricted to sandy ridges. Cardamine bulbosa (Spring Cress) is fairly common in marshy areas. Rorippa islandica (Yellow Cress) is an uncommon mustard of exposed muck in marshes.