Armoracia rusticana G. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb. 1800
Creators: name: Sennikov, Alexander
name: Lazkov, Georgy
name: German, Dmitry A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Magnoliopsida
Brassicales
Brassicaceae
Armoracia
Armoracia rusticana

description: Armoracia rusticana G. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb., 1800
Armoracia rusticana G. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb., Oekon. Fl. Wetterau 2: 426 (1800) — Cochlearia armoracia L., Sp. Pl. 2: 648 (1753).
Distribution
Native distribution
Cultigenic.
Although some earlier studies indicated that the species is native to Eastern Europe (Candolle 1908, Al-Shehbaz 1988), its natural populations are lacking (Kotov 1979, Ball 1993, Sampliner and Miller 2009).
Secondary distribution
Europe, temperate and northern Asia, temperate and northern North America.
The species may persist in places of its original cultivation for an uncertainly long time (Wedelsbäck Bladh et al. 2014). Its secondary distribution seems to be exclusively linked with cultivation places. Further dispersal occurs with soil transportation in populated places and along roads and with water currents along rivers.
In Europe, Armoracia rusticana is very common in the territories of its former cultivation (Jalas and Suominen 1994). In comprehensive recording activities, as for example, in Lithuania (Gudžinskas and Rašomavičius 2023), the species may be found commonly naturalised and persisting in the territory, with an active secondary dispersal into nature with garden waste and subsequent soil disturbance by road construction and maintenance.
In Northern Asia, the species has been registered as alien in nearly all floristic regions (Chepinoga et al. 2024), whereas its occurrence in China is limited to five provinces (Zhou et al. 2001), in which the species was first found only at the beginning of the 20 th century (Xu et al. 2012).
Up to the mid- 20 th century, most of the sources indicated that Armoracia rusticana is a cultivated plant that becomes ruderal at the places of its cultivation. In Siberia, the species was cultivated at least from the second half of the 19 th century (Ankipovich and Ebel 2016), apparently introduced in the course of extensive colonisation from the central and then southern European parts of the Russian Empire (Vinogradova 2016) and considered restricted to anthropogenic landscapes by the first quarter of the 20 th century (Krylov 1931). In the 21 st century, numerous regional reports have noted the dispersal and naturalisation of the species into natural habitats along watercourses (e. g. Zykova (2023)). Currently, the species is listed among invasive vascular plants in Siberia (Ankipovich and Ebel 2016).
Distribution in Central Asia
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Available subspontaneous records are shown in Fig. 1.
In Kazakhstan, Armoracia rusticana was cultivated in private vegetable gardens by Russian colonists, who brought this highly popular condiment from Central Russia (Gubanov et al. 1976). According to herbarium records, the species was known in cultivation in Almaty by 1886 and found naturalised in native habitats along rivers in the north-western regions in the 1920 s and in the north-eastern regions by 1960 (Vasilieva 1961), where it was certainly present for a significant period of time before being recorded. Further reports of alien occurrence are known from the northern regions (Perezhogin et al. 2023). Recent records (Fig. 2) indicate its extensive spread along rivers around large towns of the north-east, for example, Semei (formerly Semipalatinsk), Öskemen (formerly Ust-Kamenogorsk) (Plantarium 2024) and Astana (iNaturalist 2024). Numerous recent records from the southern regions (iNaturalist 2024) are from mostly ruderal populations and belong to the dispersal from Soviet-time garden cultivation.
In Uzbekistan, the species has been known from cultivation (Botschantzev and Vvedensky 1955). Currently, it remains in use not only in larger towns, but also in Uzbek villages in the mountainous regions (Kosimov et al. 2023). So far, its running wild has not been recorded in the country (Sennikov et al. 2020).
In Kyrgyzstan, Nikitina (1955) considered the species as present only in cultivation. Its alien occurrence has been reported by Deza (1989) without any further particulars and taken into account in the recent compilations (Lazkov and Sultanova 2011, Lazkov and Sultanova 2014, Sennikov and Lazkov 2024 a).
The latest account for Tajikistan (Yunusov 1978) reported the species as cultivated and sometimes escaping from cultivation, without further details on the alien status. No information on any particular subspontaneous occurrence in the country has been found. Nowak et al. (2020) claimed the species status of archaeophyte in the country, but the status is clearly in error.
Distribution in Kyrgyzstan
Western Tian-Shan (Fig. 3).
The background for the information in Deza (1989) is uncertain and may be an assumption or extrapolation. So far, we have not observed the species in ruderal localities in urban areas. The subspontaneous presence of the species in Kyrgyzstan is supported by our observation of its occurrence in a single locality in the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve, where it grows on a roadside meadow immediately north of Arkyt Village.
Ecology
The native distribution of Armoracia rusticana is lacking. Its closest relative, A. macrocarpa (Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd.) Kit. ex Baumg., occurs on alluvial meadows and margins of wetlands in floodplains (Ball 1993).
In the secondary distribution area, the species can be found in a variety of ruderal places, along roadsides, on disturbed or anthropogenous meadows, along ditches and riversides. It may become invasive by colonising river valleys (Pyšek et al. 2012).
Biology
Taproot perennial. Strong thickened roots of Armoracia rusticana act as rhizomes because of their capability to produce new shoots and offsprings from their smallest fraction (Davis 1893). This feature is used in propagation of the plants in cultivation, and facilitates their secondary dispersal by soil transportation, which is especially common in Northern Europe (Gudžinskas and Rašomavičius 2023).
Taxon discussion
Armoracia rusticana is very close to A. macrocarpa. The latter species is a Pannonian endemic, restricted to the Danube Basin, which differs from A. rusticana primarily by its longer siliculae (10-15 mm vs. 4-6 mm) with more numerous ovules per locule (ca. 10 vs. 4-6) (Ball 1993). Due to this high similarity and presumed relationship, both taxa are considered conspecific by some authors (e. g. Dorofeev (2002)).
Notes
Seed set of Armoracia rusticana is typically poor and, for this reason, vegetative propagation strongly prevails in cultivation and secondary dispersal of the species (Sampliner and Miller 2009). This feature, along with the lack of the native distribution area, indicates that the species origin is cultigenic; phylogenetically, it may have been derived directly from A. macrocarpa (Miller et al. 2010).
The spread of the species by humans was connected with its medical and, later, culinary use as a spice and a digestive or condiment (Wedelsbäck Bladh and Olsson 2011). From the ethnological and linguistic information, the cultivation most likely originated in Eastern Europe (Candolle 1908). The early medicinal cultivation in Northern Europe was concentrated in monasteries in the 12 th century (Wedelsbäck Bladh and Olsson 2011). The peak of the European cultivation and commercial production of the species roots was observed in the 19 th century, after which the popularity has significantly declined (Wedelsbäck Bladh et al. 2014).
Introduction to Kyrgyzstan
Period of introduction
Neophyte.
Our record of Armoracia rusticana in the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve is dated 2005. Following the report of Deza (1989), we assume that the first alien occurrences in the country were observed no later than in the 1970 s- 1980 s, whereas its original introduction was made by the first Russian colonists.
Pathways of introduction
Escape from confinement: Agriculture.
The species is known exclusively as escaping from cultivation. Its further spread has not been observed.
Source of introduction
Eastern Europe.
The species was introduced by settlers and suppliers from Eastern Europe.
Invasion status
Casual.
Established populations have not been observed. The colony in the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve is locally persisting.
Evidence of impact
Agriculture - no impact (not occurring as a weed). Native ecosystems - minor impact (occurrence near populated places). Urban areas - minor impact (ruderal occurrence).
Trend
Declining (inferred).
The popularity of Armoracia rusticana was noticeably fading during the second half of the 20 th century and now it has gone out of fashion as a garden vegetable. Nevertheless, the species keeps its ruderal presence in the territory due to its extraordinary ability for persistence and further spread with disturbed ground.
description: Published as part of Sennikov, Alexander, Lazkov, Georgy & German, Dmitry A., 2025, The first checklist of alien vascular plants of Kyrgyzstan, with new records and critical evaluation of earlier data. Contribution 3, pp. e 145624 in Biodiversity Data Journal 13 on page e145624, DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.13.e145624