Flower:

Elongating clusters of stalked flowers at the top of the stem and at the end of branching stems in the upper plant. Flowers are about 1/8 inch across with 4 rounded, erect to spreading white petals and 6 pale yellow stamens in the center. The 4 sepals behind the flower are green or tinged purple, mostly oblong, 1 to 1.5 mm long and about half as long as the petals.

Leaves and stems:

Leaves are compound, basal and lower stem leaves up to 4 inches (4 to 10 cm) long with 2 to 6 pairs of linear to oval leaflets and a terminal leaflet that is usually broader and more round. Basal leaves typically wither away by flowering time.

Upper stem leaves have narrower leaflets, the end leaflet similar in size as the lateral leaflets, sometimes slightly larger. Stems are are single or a few from the base, green to purple, hairless or hairy to varying degrees, unbranched except near the flowers. It can be leafy but often has a spindly appearance.

Fruit:

Fruit is a slender pod up to ¾ inch (1 to 2 cm) long, mostly ascending, straight or slightly curved.

Notes:

Small-flowered Bittercress is not very widespread in Minnesota, but appears to be expanding its range through the disturbance of human activity. We came upon a few plants near our campground at Banning State Park in Pine County. Since there was no record of it in Pine County, it was presumably transported there by other campers. Similar in appearance is Pennsylvania Bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica), which is a larger plant, has end leaflets distinctly larger than the lateral leaflets, and is found in wet habitats, where Small-flowered Bittercress prefers a dry habitat.