What is "cardamine amara"

Bitter \Bit"ter\, a. [AS. biter; akin to Goth. baitrs, Icel. bitr, Dan., Sw., D., & G. bitter, OS. bittar, fr. root of E. bite. See Bite, v. t.]

1. Having a peculiar, acrid, biting taste, like that of wormwood or an infusion of hops; as, a bitter medicine; bitter as aloes.

2. Causing pain or smart; piercing; painful; sharp; severe; as, a bitter cold day.

3. Causing, or fitted to cause, pain or distress to the mind; calamitous; poignant.

   It is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God.
   --Jer. ii. 19.

4. Characterized by sharpness, severity, or cruelty; harsh; stern; virulent; as, bitter reproach.

   Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
   --Col. iii. 19.

5. Mournful; sad; distressing; painful; pitiable.

   The Egyptians . . . made their lives bitter with hard bondage.
   --Ex. i. 14.

   Bitter apple, Bitter cucumber, Bitter gourd. (Bot.) See Colocynth.

   Bitter cress (Bot.), a plant of the genus Cardamine, esp. Cardamine amara.

   Bitter earth (Min.), tale earth; calcined magnesia.

   Bitter principles (Chem.), a class of substances, extracted from vegetable products, having strong bitter taste but with no sharply defined chemical characteristics.

   Bitter salt, Epsom salts; magnesium sulphate.

   Bitter vetch (Bot.), a name given to two European leguminous herbs, Vicia Orobus and Ervum Ervilia.

   To the bitter end, to the last extremity, however calamitous.

   Syn: Acrid; sharp; harsh; pungent; stinging; cutting; severe; acrimonious.

Cardamine amara, known as large bitter-cress, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is a perennial with upright, mostly unbranched, stems to tall, and leaves made up of between three and 13 leaflets. The flowers have petals that are long and are generally white, although sometimes pink or purple. It is found in damp places.