- Scientific name: Arabidopsis lyrata (L.) O'Kane & Al-Shehbaz
- Species of Greatest Conservation Need (MA State Wildlife Action Plan)
- Endangered (MA Endangered Species Act)
Description
Lyre-leaved rock-cress (Arabidopsis lyrata). Photo credit: Robert Wernerehl
Lyre-leaved rock-cress (Arabidopsis lyrata) is a small, pubescent perennial or biennial mustard (family Brassicaceae), with small white flowers and distinctive, pinnately-lobed (or “lyre-shaped”) basal leaves. Lyre-leaved rock-cress is a slender, branching plant, which reaches 10-40 cm (4-15.7 in) in height. The basal leaves are hairy, and 2-4 cm (0.8-1.6 in) in length. The stem leaves are alternate and linear to slightly spoon-shaped, with smooth margins and a tapering base. The flowers are tiny (3-8 mm [0.1-0.3 in]), pure white, and four-lobed, and are borne on widely ascending pedicels, 7-12 mm (0.2-0.3 in) in length. The fruits, or siliques, are 2-4.5 cm (0.8-1.8 in) long and about 1 mm (0.04 in) in width. The seeds, 1 mm (0.04 in) in length, are arranged in one row, and are wingless.
Hairy rock-cress (Arabis pycnocarpa), Drummond’s rock-cress (Boechera drummondii), sicklepod (Borodinia canadensis), green rock-cress (B. missouriensis; threatened), smooth rock-cress (B. laevigata; special concern), and tower mustard (Turritis glabra) are all generally larger plants than lyre-leaved rock-cress. Also, most of these species have winged fruits, larger siliques, and flowers that are not pure white.
Life cycle and behavior
Lyre-leaved rock-cress blooms mid-May through June and produces fruit into early August.
Population status
Photo credit: Karro Frost
Lyre-leaved rock-cress is listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act as endangered. All listed species are legally protected from killing, collection, possession, or sale, and from activities that would destroy habitat and thus directly or indirectly cause mortality or disrupt critical behaviors. There are 8 populations that have been verified since 1999; all of the current populations are within Berkshire County. Historically one was observed in Hampden County. Only two of the current populations are assessed as having long-term viability.
Distribution and abundance
Lyre-leaf rock-cress reaches its northeastern-most extent in New England in Vermont (imperiled) and Massachusetts (critically imperiled). It extends west across Canada from Ontario to Alaska, and south along the Atlantic coastal plain to North Carolina (imperiled) and Georgia (possibly extirpated). It is also possibly extirpated in Mississippi and Montana.
Distribution in Massachusetts
1999-2024
Based on records in the Natural Heritage Database
Habitat
In Massachusetts, lyre-leaved rock cress inhabits thin soils and crevices of calcareous rocky cliffs, outcrops, and ledges, in full to filtered sun. Associated species include broad-leaved ragwort (Packera obovata), downy arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquianum; endangered), early saxifrage (Micranthes virginiensis), ebony spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron), harebell (Campanula rotundifolia), hickories (Carya spp.), rusty woodsia (Woodsia ilvensis), and wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis).
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Threats
Heavy recreational use, such as hiking and rock climbing in lyre-leaved rock-cress habitat areas can result in physical damage to plants, and compaction and erosion of the soil. Some populations of lyre-leaved rock-cress are threatened by invasion of exotic plant species such as Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii). Invasive plants can dominate the vegetation cover and effectively out-compete native plants.
Conservation and management
Research needs
As with many rare species, the exact management needs of lyre-leaved rock-cress are not known. Lyre-leaved rock-cress locations that receive heavy recreational use (e.g., hiking, rock climbing) should be carefully monitored for rare plant damage, soil compaction, and erosion; if plant damage or soil disturbance is evident, trails and climbing routes should be re-routed if possible. Habitat sites should also be monitored for invasions of exotic plants, particularly Japanese barberry. All active management of rare plant populations (including invasive species removal) is subject to review under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act and should be planned in close consultation with the MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program.
Contact
| Date published: | April 7, 2025 |
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