Arabidopsis

Arabidopsis
Thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Arabidopsis
Heynh. in Holl & Heynh.
Type species
Arabidopsis thaliana
L.
Species

See text

Synonyms
  • Cardaminopsis (C.A.Mey.) Hayek
  • Euxena Calest.
  • Hylandra Á.Löve
  • Pilosella Kostel. ex Rydb.
  • Stenophragma Čelak.

Arabidopsis (rockcress) is a genus of small flowering plants in the cabbage and mustard family, Brassicaceae. Arabidopsis species are native to temperate and subarctic Eurasia and North America, North Africa, and the mountains of eastern tropical Africa. This genus is of great interest since it contains thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), one of the model organisms used for studying plant biology and the first plant to have its entire genome sequenced. Changes in thale cress are easily observed, making it a very useful model.