Arabidopsis

Sand foam cress (Arabidopsis arenosa )

The foam cress (Arabidopsis, synonym: Cardaminopsis ) constitute a genus in the family of the cruciferous plants (Brassicaceae ). An in genetic research as a model organism important representative is the thale cress.

The genus Arabidopsis has been studied scientifically lately and re- defining. As part of this revision, the previously separate genus Cardaminopsis was involved in Arabidopsis and many previously counted to Arabidopsis species have been moved to other genera.

Occurrence

The foam Kressen found in eastern and northern Asia, Europe and North America ( Holarctic ) ago. They come in both Europe and in parts of Asia prior to the montane levels. At least the rocks foam cress (Arabidopsis lyrata ) also occurs in western America.

They grow preferentially on calcareous, nutrient-poor soils, some species also on rocks. Often they are also found on railway land, on dumps or on gravel. They prefer some relatively dry and light -rich locations.

Description

The foam Kressen are one-, two - and perennial herbaceous plants with stolons ( foothills ). The stems are mostly bare. The shape of the sessile to short -stalked leaves can vary greatly. Thus, the basal rosette leaves are entire or lobed or pinnatifid to pinnate, on the other hand most of the serrated stem leaves entire or slightly.

The flowers are in a racemose inflorescences. The flowers are cruciform. The sepals are oblong. The four petals are arranged in the shape of a cross. The color of the petals is usually white, often pink, rarely even purple. Another important distinguishing the crucifers are the six stamens. Four long stamens are located in the center, two shorter edge. The two fused carpels form a superior ovaries.

They belong to the schotenfrüchtigen crucifers. Their fruits are pods so three times as long as wide. The fruit valves are papery. Each fruit contains many seeds.

Species and subspecies and their distribution

According to the current boundary, the genus includes the following nine species and eight subspecies:

• Sand foam cress (Arabidopsis arenosa (L.) Lawalrée ): A. arenosa subsp. arenosa: In Europe, natural growth places: Austria, Belarus, Bosnia - Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, in northeastern France, Germany, Hungary, northern Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Yugoslavia known. Naturalises is this subspecies in Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Western Siberia and Sweden.
• A. arenosa subsp. borbasii ( Zapal. ) O'Kane & Al- Shehbaz: Locations are available in the Czech Republic, in northeastern France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland and Ukraine.

• A. halleri subsp. halleri: Based in: Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, in northern and central Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and southern Ukraine. Naturalises in northern France but extinct in Belgium.
• A. halleri subsp. ovirensis ( Wulfen ) O'Kane & Al- Shehbaz: Based in Albania, Austria, in northeastern Italy, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, in the south-western Ukraine, Yugoslavia.
• A. halleri subsp. gemmifera ( Matsumura ) O'Kane & Al- Shehbaz: Based in Russia's Far East, northeastern China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

• A. lyrata subsp. lyrata: Resident in the northern European part of Russia, Alaska, Canada (from Ontario west to British Columbia) and in the south and central part of the United States (Vermont south to northern Georgia and Mississippi north to Missouri and Minnesota).
• A. lyrata subsp. petraea (L.) O'Kane & Al- Shehbaz: Based in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, England, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, northern Italy, Norway, Russia ( northwestern Russia, Siberia and its Far East ), Scotland, Sweden, Ukraine, in boreal North America (Alaska and Yukon ). Extinct in Poland.
• A. lyrata subsp. kamchatica (Fischer ex DC. ) O'Kane & Al- Shehbaz: Based in boreal Alaska, Canada ( Yukon, Mackenzie District, British Columbia, northern Saskatchewan ), Aleutian Islands, eastern Siberia, Russia's Far East, Korea, northern China, Japan, and Taiwan.

Sources and further information

• Al- Shehbaz, I. A., O'Kane, Steve L.: . Taxonomy and phylogeny of Arabidopsis ( Brassicaceae). The Arabidopsis Book: 1-22 ( 2002). the online version.
• Description of the genus in the Flora of China.

• Cruciferous plants