Pachymitus cardaminoides
(F.Muell.) O.E.Schulz Sand CressErect, to 30 cm high, many-stemmed, hairy. Basal leaves petiolate, to 13 cm long, pinnately lobed, the lateral lobes linear to toothed; stem leaves reducing to entire, sessile. Sepals 2–3.5 mm long; petals 4–6 mm long. Fruit spreading to horizontal, terete or quadrangular, sometimes constricted between seeds, straight or curved, 8–15 mm long (excluding style), 1–2 mm wide, sparsely hairy or glabrous; style up to 1 mm long; valves convex to keeled; pedicels spreading to horizontal, 5–16 mm long. Flowers winter–spring.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF, GGr, DunT, NIS. Also SA, NSW. Confined to the north-central (e.g. Pyramid Hill, Kerang areas) and western parts of the State, mostly on sandy rises but also in rocky soil or clay.
Characterized by branched hairs; white, clawed petals; and the linear, relatively short fruits with 2 rows of seed per locule.
The fruit is often described in texts as being hairy, but at least some Victorian populations have glabrous fruits. The presence or absence of hairs on the ovary and fruit appears to be related to the overall hairiness of the plant (which is variable) rather than being suggestive of there being more than one species (or subspecies).
Entwisle, T.J. (1996). Brassicaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 399–459. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
