Coronopus didymus (L.) Sm., Brassicaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Lepidium didymum L.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: bittercress, carrot weed, hog's cress, land cress, lesser swine cress, swine cress, swine wartcress, swine watercress, twin cress, wart cress

French: coronope didyme, coronope pinnatifide, senebière didyme

Japanese: karakusa-nazuna

Spanish: cervellina, huamicara, mastuerzo, mastuerzo silvestre, pichicara

Tongan: lesivao

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Foetid annual or biennial with short-loved rosette and procumbent to ascending glabrous or sparsely hairy stems to 40 cm long.  Leaves 1-2-pinnatifid, narrow-oblong to ovate, glabrous except for sparse spreading hairs on petioles of some basal leaves; rosette leaves petiolate, 6-10 x 1.5-2 cm; stem leaves smaller, usually pinnatifid, rarely 2-pinnatifid, 1-4 x 0.5-1.5 cm.  Racemes (1)-3-5 cm; rachis with sparse spreading hairs; pedicels spreading, 2.5-4 mm long.  Sepals c. 0.5 mm long.  Petals white, less than sepals or 0.  Stamens usually 2, rarely 4.  Silicle broader than long, emarginate, c. 1.5 x 2-2.5 mm; valves finely warty or ridged, separating at maturity; stigma minute, almost sessile in apical notch of silicle.  Seed comma-shaped, light brown, c. 1 mm long."  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 419)

"Sparsely pubescent, aromatic annual or biennial herbs; outer stems prostrate, 1-4 dm long.  Basal leaves oblong in outline, 3-10 cm long, deeply pinnatifid, the lobes dentate, stem leaves similar but shorter.  Petals ca. 1 mm long; stamens 2.  Silicles didymous, 2-2.5 mm wide, finely wrinkled"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 403).

Habitat/ecology:  "Occasional in disturbed places" (Whistler, 1988; p. 16).  "[It] may be seen on new, sown and overgrazed pasture, around gateways and watering places, in animal yards, and in many types of cultivated crops" (Holm et al., 1997; p. 245).

In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in dry, disturbed sites, especially common in lawns, 0-2,100 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 403).  In Fiji, "an infrequent weed in waste places at an elevation of 750-800 m" (Smith, 1981; p. 708).  In Niue, mostly seen in plantations, where it is often common" (Sykes, 1970; p. 76).  In Tonga, "a plantation and waste-area weed" (Yuncker, 1959; p. 122).  In New Zealand, "waste land, roadsides, cultivated land, coastal shingly land"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 419). In New Caledonia, "serait peut-être la "moutarde sauvage" citée comme mauvaise herbe à Nouvéa par Pancher (1858b). Aujourd'hui bien répandu en cultures et terrains vagues" (MacKee, 1994; p. 44).

Propagation:  "It reproduced by seeds that are moved by wind, water, in mud on the feet of birds, animals, and by various activities of man" (Holm et al., 1997; p. 245).

Native range:  Eurasia.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced	Pickard, J. (1984) (p. 206)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 19) "A common weed of disturbed soil and open wasteland". Vouchers cited: L.A.S. Johnson & A.N. Rodd 1232 (NSW); J. Pickard 2744 (NSW); 1898, J.H. Maiden (NSW); J.D. McComish 197 (NSW)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 8) "A common weed of disturbed soil and open wasteland". Vouchers cited: P. Ralston 56 (A, K), R.M. Laing (CHR)
Cook Islands Cook Islands	Cook Islands		McCormack, Gerald (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Floreana Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santiago Group	Santiago Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 708) Voucher cited: Greenwood 880
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 403-404)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaho‘olawe Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 403-404)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 403-404)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 403-404)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Laysan Island	introduced invasive	Staples, George W./Imada, Clyde T./Herbst, Derral R. (2003) (p. 9) Voucher cited: A. Martin 2 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 403-404)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 403-404)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Ni‘ihau Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 403-404)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 403-404) Voucher cited: Mann & Brigham 331 (BISH)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Lifou	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 44) Voucher cited: MacKee 27276
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 380) Bien répandu en cultures et terrains vagues.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 44) Vouchers cited: Pancher s.n., Balansa 562, Franc 505, Däniker 670, MacKee 5191, MacKee 35758
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Kermadec Islands	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 415) "Waste land, roadsides, cultivated land, coastal shingly land".
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Raoul Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1977) (p. 102)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 76) Voucher cited: CHR 170268
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 16)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 57) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 9795 (BISH), Yuncker 10246 (BISH) "A weed along roadsides and on rocky cliffs".
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 16)
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 122) "Throughout Tonga".
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 122) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15586
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 122) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 16233, Hülimann 102
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Midway Atoll	Midway Atoll	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 403-404)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 90)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)		Hafliger, Toni J./Wolf, Matthias (1988) (p. 163)
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 243)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 243)
Chile (continental) Chile	Chile (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 243)
China China	China (People's Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 243)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Hafliger, Toni J./Wolf, Matthias (1988) (p. 163)
Japan Japan	Japan (country)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 243)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)		Hafliger, Toni J./Wolf, Matthias (1988) (p. 163)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 419) "Waste land, roadsides, cultivated land, coastal shingly land".
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 243)

Additional information:
Additional online information about Coronopus didymus is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Coronopus didymus as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Coronopus didymus may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Charles Darwin Foundation. 2008. Database inventory of introduced plant species in the rural and urban zones of Galapagos. Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos, Ecuador.

Charles Darwin Research Station. 2005. CDRS Herbarium records.

Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe. 1996. Conséquences des introductions d'espèces animales et végétales sur la biodiversité en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Rev. Ecol. (Terre Vie) 51:375-401.

Hafliger, Toni J./Wolf, Matthias. 1988. Dicot weeds, vol. 1. CIBA-GEIGY Ltd., Basle, Switzerland. 335 pp.

Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James. 1997. World weeds: natural histories and distribution. John Wiley & Sons. 1129 pp.

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

McCormack, Gerald. 2008. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga.

Orchard, Anthony E., ed. 1994. Flora of Australia. Vol. 49, Oceanic islands 1. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Pickard, J. 1984. Exotic plants on Lord Howe Island: Distribution in space and time, 1853-1981. J. of Biogeography 11:181-208.

Smith, Albert C. 1981. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 2. 810 pp.

Staples, George W./Imada, Clyde T./Herbst, Derral R. 2003. New Hawaiian plant records for 2001. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Eldredge, Lucius G., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2001-2002. Part 2: Notes. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 74:7-21.

Swarbrick, John T. 1997. Weeds of the Pacific Islands. Technical paper no. 209. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 124 pp.

Sykes, W. R. 1970. Contributions to the flora of Niue. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 200, Wellington. 321 pp.

Sykes, W. R. 1977. Kermadec Islands flora: an annotated checklist. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 219, Wellington. 216 pp.

Tassin, Jacques. 2005. Jacques Tassin (IAC-CIRAD), personal communication.

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).

Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. 1988. Flora of New Zealand, Volume IV: Naturalised pteridophytes, gymnosperms, dicotyledons. Botany Division, DSIR, Christchurch. 1365 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1988. Checklist of the weed flora of western Polynesia. Technical Paper No. 194, South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 69 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1943. The flora of Niue Island. Bishop Mus. Bull. 178. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 126 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1959. Plants of Tonga. Bishop Museum Bull. 220. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 343 pp.