Rockcress

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Small flowers with four petals and four stamen typically indicate plants in the mustard family, and the smallest of flowers (less than one-half inch in length) suggest a plant in the rockcress genus (Arabis).

Approximately ninety different species grow in North America, and their flowers bloom in shades of pink, purple, white and yellow.

Often multiple flowers grow atop a thin stem, although some plants grow in clumps with shorter stems surrounded by a thick base of leaves.

With so many different species, flower color, shape and number of leaves, as well as habitat serve as important identification clues.

© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels