Plant Profile: Rorippa teres (Michx.)

Southern yellowcress and marsh yellowcress (Rorippa palustris L.), both belonging to the Brassicaceae family, are closely related winter annual weeds found extensively across the United States. These plants thrive in moist environments but are adaptable to various habitats. They typically develop a rosette of deeply lobed leaves and produce upright, branched flower stalks. As they mature, the leaves become increasingly lobed. In container settings, marsh yellowcress usually grows a single upright stem that branches primarily at the flowering stage, while both species can create well-branched mounds. The flowers are yellow and give rise to cylindrical fruit that contains numerous small tan seeds. The two species can be distinguished by their fruit pods (siliques): southern yellowcress has seed pods that are either stalkless or have very short stalks, whereas marsh yellowcress features seed pods on short stalks measuring about half an inch. Both species germinate in either fall or spring, preferring cool, moist soil, and can be effectively controlled with several preemergence herbicides.

This plant is also referred to by its Latin name, R. walteri.