Rorippa | |
---|---|
Rorippa amphibia | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Brassicales |
Family: | Brassicaceae |
Genus: | Rorippa Scop. |
Species | |
75–85; see text |
Rorippa is a globally distributed genus in the family Brassicaceae, with species occurring on all continents except for Antarctica. [1] [2] [3] Rorippa species are natively distributed in the Northern Hemisphere through Eurasia and North America, and dispersed into the Southern Hemisphere through long-distance dispersal. [3] Rorippa species are annual to perennial herbs, usually with yellow flowers and a peppery flavour. They are known commonly as yellowcresses.
As a close relative of Arabidopsis, Rorippa has emerged as a group of valuable model organisms for investigating various biological processes. Researchers have utilized Rorippa to study developmental phenomena such as heterophylly, [4] [5] weediness, [6] [7] [8] and vegetative regeneration. [9] [10] [11] For example, heterophylly is the ability of plants to produce different leaf forms in response to contrasting environments, such as aerial or submerged conditions. This may incur anatomical or physiological changes and facilitate adaptation to the amphibious lifestyle in Rorippa, [12]
Additionally, Rorippa has been employed to explore stress tolerance mechanisms, including responses to submergence, [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [12] [18] heavy metals, [19] [20] high-altitudes, [21] [22] and herbivory (specifically the mustard aphid). [23] [24] [25] For example, Rorippa amphibia can escape submergence through elongation, [14] while Rorippa sylvestris or Rorippa palustris can photosynthesize underwater and exhibits a hyponastic response (positive growth response to gravity), demonstrating a quiescence strategy (a period of reduced activity during unfavorable conditions). [14] [15]
Furthermore, Rorippa has served as a model system for studying biological invasion, with research focusing on evolutionary, [26] [27] ecological, [28] [29] and historical aspects. [1] [30] [31] [32] [33]
Most Rorippa species thrive in moist or wet environments like ditches, meadows, waterfronts, and wetlands, [28] highlighting their exceptional tolerance to flooding. [13] This facilitates the dispersal of their seeds or vegetative propagules by floods over short to long ranges. For example, their fruits with seeds can remain viable for up to 60 days while floating in water. [28] The aquatic or marshy habitats of Rorippa often overlap with those of migratory shorebirds, [2] which could potentially carry seeds or fragments over long distances, establishing new populations far from the source. Furthermore, several adaptations, like the mucilage coating or hollows on their seeds, and their ability to self-fertilize and reproduce clonally, [1] might also contribute to their long-distance dispersal. [3]
Rorippa species are known for colonizing disturbed or wet areas first. They serve as valuable indicators of hydrophytic (water-loving) vegetation types. According to the National Wetland Plant List (NWPL) for the United States, several Rorippa species are classified as wetland indicators, with a high probability of occurring in Obligate (OBL) or Facultative Wetland (FACW) categories. For instance, nearly 55% of the 22 North American Rorippa species are categorized as OBL wetland indicators, [28] highlighting their strong association with wet environments. This characteristic makes Rorippa plants a valuable tool for wetland establishment, restoration, and enhancement efforts.
Rorippa aquatica, a North American lakecress, is a valuable model organism for studying plant development and adaptation. It exhibits striking heterophylly, [4] [5] [18] altering its leaf shape in response to environmental conditions like submergence, temperature, and light. In low-light submerged environments, for example, it develops finely dissected leaves. While in terrestrial conditions, it forms simple leaves with serrated edges. This leaf shape variation is controlled by the levels of plant hormones including gibberellin (GA) and ethylene, as well as the expression of specific genes, such as KNOX1 [5] or RaSPCH/RaMUTE, [18] providing an efficient way for leaves to absorb sunlight underwater. The species is also used to study vegetative propagation as it can regenerate from leaf fragments. [10] Its close phylogenetic relationship to Arabidopsis thaliana and its recently sequenced allotetraploid genome make it a powerful tool for genetic and genomic research. [34]
Rorippa elata is a type of plant that has adapted to live in high-altitude mountain environments. It can adjust its traits, like flowering time and chemical defenses, to survive in different conditions. [22] The plant's ability to adapt is also linked to its polyploid nature, which seems to have played a role in its successful colonization of high-altitudes during periods of historical climate change. [21]
Rorippa palustris, a short-lived and self-pollinating herb, is a ruderal weed that has expanded into disturbed wetland areas across the world. A key characteristic of R. palustris, and other ruderal plants, is its short life cycle. [8] [21] Genetic studies have shown that mutations in the CRY2 gene contribute to this early-flowering trait. [6] These mutations lead to a constitutively active CRY2 protein, which overrides the need for vernalization (a cold period) and allows the plant to flower early, even under short-day conditions.
There are about 75 [35] to 85 [36] [37] [38] species in the genus. About 70% of Rorippa are polyploids, and 90% of them are endemic to specific continents. [3] A few of Rorippa species are widely distributed and invasive, including Rorippa amphibia, Rorippa dubia, Rorippa indica, Rorippa palustris, and Rorippa sylvestris. Plants of Rorippa palustris can be found globally, making it one of the most successful weeds in the world.
Species include: [1] [30] [31] [32] [33] [35] [39] [40] [41] [42]
Erysimum, or wallflower, is a genus of flowering plants in the cabbage family, Brassicaceae. It includes more than 150 species, both popular garden plants and many wild forms. Erysimum is characterised by star-shaped and/or two-sided) trichomes growing from the stem, with yellow, red, pink or orange flowers and multiseeded seed pods.
A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows mainly in coastal saline or brackish water. Mangroves grow in an equatorial climate, typically along coastlines and tidal rivers. They have particular adaptations to take in extra oxygen and remove salt, allowing them to tolerate conditions that kill most plants. The term is also used for tropical coastal vegetation consisting of such species. Mangroves are taxonomically diverse due to convergent evolution in several plant families. They occur worldwide in the tropics and subtropics and even some temperate coastal areas, mainly between latitudes 30° N and 30° S, with the greatest mangrove area within 5° of the equator. Mangrove plant families first appeared during the Late Cretaceous to Paleocene epochs and became widely distributed in part due to the movement of tectonic plates. The oldest known fossils of mangrove palm date to 75 million years ago.
Aquatic plants are vascular plants that have adapted to live in aquatic environments. They are also referred to as hydrophytes or macrophytes to distinguish them from algae and other microphytes (phytoplanktons). In lakes, rivers and wetlands, aquatic vegetations provide cover for aquatic animals such as fish, amphibians and aquatic insects, create substrate for benthic invertebrates, produce oxygen via photosynthesis, and serve as food for some herbivorous wildlife. Familiar examples of aquatic plants include waterlily, lotus, duckweeds, mosquito fern, floating heart, water milfoils, mare's tail, water lettuce and water hyacinth.
A salt marsh, saltmarsh or salting, also known as a coastal salt marsh or a tidal marsh, is a coastal ecosystem in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and open saltwater or brackish water that is regularly flooded by the tides. It is dominated by dense stands of salt-tolerant plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh in trapping and binding sediments. Salt marshes play a large role in the aquatic food web and the delivery of nutrients to coastal waters. They also support terrestrial animals and provide coastal protection.
Watercress or yellowcress is a species of aquatic flowering plant in the cabbage family, Brassicaceae.
Nasturtium is a genus of a small number of plant species in the family Brassicaceae commonly known as watercress or yellowcress. The best known species are the edible Nasturtium officinale and Nasturtium microphyllum. Nasturtium was previously synonymised with Rorippa, but molecular evidence supports its maintenance as a distinct genus more closely related to Cardamine than to Rorippasensu stricto.
Barbarea vulgaris, also called wintercress, or alternatively winter rocket, rocketcress, yellow rocketcress, yellow rocket, wound rocket, herb barbara, creases, or creasy greens, is a biennial herb of the genus Barbarea, belonging to the family Brassicaceae.
Malus sylvestris, the European crab apple, also known as the European wild apple or simply the crab apple, is a species of the genus Malus, native to Europe and western Asia. Its scientific name means "forest apple".
Rorippa sylvestris is an invasive species of plant in the United States, likely entering from Europe before 1818 from ballast water and spreading throughout North America through contaminated nursery seed stock.
Rumex palustris, or marsh dock, is a plant species of the genus Rumex, found in Europe. The species is a dicot belonging to the family Polygonaceae. The species epithet palustris is Latin for "of the marsh" which indicates its common habitat.
Erysimum cheiranthoides, the treacle-mustard,wormseed wallflower, or wormseed mustard is a species of Erysimum native to most of central and northern Europe and northern and central Asia. Like other Erysimum species, E. cheiranthoides accumulates two major classes of defensive chemicals: glucosinolates and cardiac glycosides.
Mucilage is a thick gluey substance produced by nearly all plants and some microorganisms. These microorganisms include protists which use it for their locomotion, with the direction of their movement always opposite to that of the secretion of mucilage. It is a polar glycoprotein and an exopolysaccharide. Mucilage in plants plays a role in the storage of water and food, seed germination, and thickening membranes. Cacti and flax seeds are especially rich sources of mucilage.
Rorippa palustris, marsh yellow-cress, bog yellow-cress or common yellow-cress, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is widespread and native to parts of Africa, and much of Asia, Europe and Eurasia, North America and the Caribbean. It can also be found in other parts of the world as an introduced species and a common weed, for example, in Australia and South America. It is an adaptable plant which grows in many types of damp, wet, and aquatic habitat. It may be an annual, biennial, or perennial plant, and is variable in appearance as well.
Rorippa austriaca is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae known by the common names Austrian yellow-cress and Austrian fieldcress. It is native to parts of Europe and Asia, and it is known in North America as an introduced species and sometimes a noxious weed. It can grow in disturbed habitat, such as roadsides, and in very wet habitat such as mudflats. It is a perennial herb growing upright to erect, reaching a maximum height near one meter. The branching stem bears hairless blue-green lance-shaped leaves up to 10 centimeters long. The bases of the upper leaves clasp the stem. The inflorescence is a raceme at the top of the stem and the ends of stem branches. The mustardlike flowers have small yellow petals. The fruit is a plump silique a few millimeters long, but many plants do not fruit and seed production is rare. Reproduction in this species is more often vegetative, the plants concentrating their growth in belowground tissue and spreading clonally. The root system of the plant is particularly aggressive, sending up many new plants as it spreads.
Rorippa subumbellata is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae known by the common names Lake Tahoe yellowcress and Tahoe yellow cress. It is known only from the shores of Lake Tahoe, straddling the border between California and Nevada. There are an estimated fourteen populations of the plant still in existence. It grows only on the direct shoreline of the lake, occupying a seven-foot semi-aquatic zone between the high- and low-tide marks. It is directly impacted by recreational activities on the lake, enduring bombardment by boat wakes, trampling, and construction of docks and other structures.
A cypress dome is a type of freshwater forested wetland, or a swamp, found in the southeastern part of the United States. They are dominated by the Taxodium spp., either the bald cypress, or pond cypress. The name comes from the dome-like shape of treetops, formed by smaller trees growing on the edge where the water is shallow while taller trees grow at the center in deeper water. They usually appear as circular, but if the center is too deep, they form a “doughnut” shape when viewed from above. Cypress domes are characteristically small compared to other swamps, however they can occur at a range of sizes, dependent on the depth.
Julia Bailey-Serres is professor of genetics, director of the Center for Plant Cell Biology, and a member of the Institute for Integrative Genome Biology at the University of California, Riverside. Her accomplishments include the pioneering of methods for profiling the "translatomes" of discrete cell-types of plants and identification of a homeostatic sensor of oxygen deprivation in plants.
Proserpinaca palustris, the marsh mermaidweed or common mermaid-weed, is a species of flowering plant in the watermilfoil family (Haloragaceae). It is found in North America, the Caribbean, and Central America.
Alyssum serpyllifolium, the thyme-leaved alison, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, native to the western Mediterranean region. It is adapted to serpentine soils. The Royal Horticultural Society recommends it for rock gardens.