Arabidopsis thaliana Thale Cress, Mouseear cress PFAF Plant Database

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Summary

Thale Cress or Mouse-ear cress is an annual flowering plant found on walls and banks, hedgerows and waste places. It has minor medicinal uses. It is a useful model plant for understanding the genetic, cellular, and molecular biology of flowering plants. Also known as arabidopsis

Physical Characteristics

Arabidopsis thaliana is a ANNUAL/BIENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in). It is in flower from April to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Arabis thaliana.

Plant Habitats

Hedgerow; East Wall. In. South Wall. In. West Wall. In.

Edible Uses

None known

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Mouthwash

The plant is used to cure sores in the mouth[240].

References More on Medicinal Uses

Other Uses

Widely used for studying plant sciences, including genetics, evolution, population genetics, and plant development. Although A. thaliana has little direct significance for agriculture, it has several traits that make it a useful model for understanding the genetic, cellular, and molecular biology of flowering plants.

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have no specific information on the cultivation needs of this species. It will probably grow best in a reasonably sunny position, tolerating dry and poor soils. Please see the plants native habitat for further ideas on its cultivation needs[K].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Cyprus, Egypt (Sinai), Iran, Lebanon (temperate Asia), Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, China TROPICAL ASIA: India (north), Nepal, Pakistan (north) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland (south), United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Portugal (Madeira Islands), Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

This plant can be weedy or invasive. Noted as a weed in Kentucky, US.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

IUCN Red List

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Expert comment

Author

(L.)Heynh.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


Donald Heskett	Fri Jun 23 2006

It should be noted that this plant is very widely used in botanical research.


Kim Gibson	Sun Oct 22 2006

I agree with Donald. The 'Other Uses' section should be updated and include a discussion of the fact that this is the lab-rat of the plant sciences. The entire genome has been sequenced which has allowed for genetic, molecular, and biochemical studies. The Arabidopsis genome has been used as a reference point for other plants whose genomes have yet to be sequenced. The small size of the genome, short lifespan, and ease of growth of Arabidopsis makes it a good plant to use for general botanical research.

The Arabidopsis Information Resource "Database of genetic and molecular data" for Arabidopsis

Arabidopsis thaliana - (L.)Heynh.