Rorippa sessiliflora
USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York. Vol. 2: 162.
What is Stalkless Yellowcress?
Physical Characteristics
Leaves:
- Elongated
- Sword-shaped
- Edges serrated
Flowers:
- Small
- Yellowish sepals
- Few petals, mostly absent
Seeds:
- Many seeded
- About 0.02 inches long
- Heart-shaped
- Plump
Stem:
- Upright
- Branching
- 0.5-1.5 feet tall
- Fleshy
Roots:
- Taproot
Where Does it Grow?
Stalkless yellowcress can be found on wetlands, riverbanks, and along the edges of streams.
Pros and Cons of Stalkless Yellowcress
Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks, etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called “detritus”) for many aquatic invertebrates.