Identification

• The Arabidopsis plant is small with single, small, white flowers that sprout from the top of the plant and has long stems. The leaves of the plant are extremely long and thin. The Arabidopsis plant is hardy and versatile, requiring loose and free-draining ground so it can grow in what is normally considered poor soil, such as sandy gravel.
  
  

Geography

• The most common Arabidopsis plant, thale cress, is native to Europe and some of Asia but has been introduced all over the world. Other Arabidopsis plants are native to mostly Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and some of Asia. Others are specific to one country, such as the Arabidopsis croatica, which is native to Croatia.
  
  

Types

• Thale cress, or Arabidopsis thaliana, is the most significant Arabidopsis plant found in the world and the most common. The types of Arabidopsis plant are continuously changing, with 50 former species of Arabidopsis being reclassified and two new ones added. Other species of Arabidopsis plant include arenosa, cebennensis, croatica, halleri, lyrata, neglecta, pedemontana and suecica.
  
  

Uses

• The Arabidopsis plant's genetic makeup makes it a vital part of cellular and molecular biology studies and research. Many scientists around the world grow and use this plant, which has had the majority of its genome sequence mapped. The Arabidopsis plant is also susceptible to mutations and rapidly produces seeds and, along with its short six-week life cycle, is useful in various experiments.