pennycress

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pennycress

plant

Also known as: Thlaspi

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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Related Topics:: cress; Brassicaceae; field pennycress

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pennycress, (genus Thlaspi), genus of plants of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), named and sometimes grown for their round seedpods. Most of the species are Eurasian, but a few are native to North and South America, mostly in mountain areas. Pennycress species can be annuals or perennials and produce spikes of small white, lavender, or pink flowers with four petals. The taxonomy of the genus has been contentious, and many former Thlaspi species are now placed in the genus Noccaea.

Field pennycress, or fanweed (T. arvense), has flat and circular notched pods and is a common weed throughout much of North America. Its seeds have a high oil content, and the species has gained interest as a potential feedstock for biofuel production.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.