Prior names
Sisymbrium lucae
Pachymitus cardaminoides var. dasycarpus
Pachymitus lucae
Erysimum lucae
Erysimum cardaminoides
Blennodia lucae
Sisymbrium cardaminoides
Blennodia cardaminoides
Common names
Sand Cress
Etymology
Pachymitus from the Greek 'pachys' meaning thick and 'mitos' meaning a thread, referring to the stout pedicels. Cardaminoides means resembling the genus Cardamine (from the Greek 'kardamon' a name given by Dioscorides for a species of cress, an Indian spice).
Distribution and status
Found scattered in the east central part of South Australia, growing on a variety of soil types and habitats. Also found in New South Wales and Victoria. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, South Eastern
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Erect, many-stemmed annual herb to 30 cm high, hairy. Basal leaves petiolate, to 13 cm long; pinnately lobed, the lateral lobes linear to toothed; stem leaves reducing to entire, sessile. Inflorescence a dense elongated spike with white flowers. Flowering between June and October. Fruits are long hairy, brown pod to 19 mm long and 1.6 mm wide. Seed embryo type is bent.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between September and December. Collect maturing pods, turning pale brown with hard seeds inside. Be gentle with the pods as they split open easily. Place the pods in a tray and cover with paper to prevent seeds from popping out and leave to dry for a week. Then rub the dried pods gently by hand to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place.