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The "Mizu-tagarashi" (Cardamine lyrata) belongs to Brassicaceae (the Mustard family). It is a perennial herb that is distributed from southern Tohoku region of Honshu to Shikoku and Kyushu, as well as in China and southern Siberia. It grows in wetlands, riverbeds, fields, and ponds, reaching a height of 30 to 70 cm. The stems are thick with ribs, and some are erect while others are prostrate.The leaves are odd-pinnate compound leaves, and the leaflets are sub-circular, heart-shaped, or kidney-shaped. From April to June, racemes appear at the tips of the stems and produce white cruciform flowers. The fruit is a flat, linear capsule. In Chinese, it is called "水田碎米薺" (shui tian sui mi ji).
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