Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Brassicaceae / Cruciferae ⟩ Barbarea vulgaris / winter cress

Barbarea vulgaris W. T. Aiton

winter cress (Brassicaceae / Cruciferae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadNegligible tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Barbarea vulgaris is a plant of damp but not strongly acidic soils, and is especially frequent along river valleys.

Bayern, Germany; 2016-04-27

 winter cress / Barbarea vulgaris: _Barbarea vulgaris_ is a plant of damp but not strongly acidic soils, and is especially frequent along river valleys.

When the lower flowers have bent down and opened but the upper ones have not, the inflorescence can develop a characteristic ‘topknot’.

Bayern, Germany; 2016-04-27

 winter cress / Barbarea vulgaris: When the lower flowers have bent down and opened but the upper ones have not, the inflorescence can develop a characteristic ‘topknot’.

Lower leaves

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2008-06-01

 winter cress / Barbarea vulgaris: Lower leaves

The elongated fruits of Barbarea vulgaris contain a single row of seeds under each valve (seen here with one valve removed).

Turkdean (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2020-07-26

 winter cress / Barbarea vulgaris: The elongated fruits of _Barbarea vulgaris_ contain a single row of seeds under each valve (seen here with one valve removed).

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne