Family: crucifers (Brassicaceae)
Flowering time: April–May
Size: 30–50 cm
Habitat: beeches and mixed forests in shady areas
Five-leaved bittercress (Cardamine pentaphyllos) hides a horizontal rhizome in the soil. From it shoots an upright, unbranched stem, which is leafy with up to five alternately arranged leaves. These are divided; the lower ones are pentafoliate, the upper ones tripartite. Lanceolate leaflets with a sharply serrated edge can be more than 10 cm long. The inflorescence at the top of the stem consists of large purple flowers. The petals are 15 to 25 mm long, the stamens are yellow. The ripe fruits are 4 to 7 cm long, and up to 5 mm wide.
Five-leaved bittercress is widely distributed in the western and central parts of Slovenia, toward the east of the country it is increasingly rare. In the sub-Mediterranean and sub-Pannonian parts of Slovenia, it is not found.
