It is widespread and native to parts of Africa, and much of Asia, Europe and Eurasia, North America and the Caribbean.

[2] It can also be found in other parts of the world as an introduced species and a common weed, for example, in Australia and South America.

The inflorescence is a raceme of mustardlike flowers with spoon-shaped yellow petals each a few millimeters in length.

The fruit is a dehiscent and smoothly valved silicle, up to a centimeter long, and containing anywhere from 20 to 90 minute seeds.

[5] In botanical literature, Rorippa palustris has been called by numerous common names (with variations).