thale cress; Arabidopsis thaliana
A small flowering plant widely used as a model organism in plant biology and genetics.
Arabidopsis thaliana is often used in plant research.
Katakana spelling is standard for this plant name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare and may not be widely recognized; the katakana form is strongly preferred.
The Japanese name シロイヌナズナ literally means 'white dog's shepherd's purse', referring to its resemblance to ナズナ (shepherd's purse) and its white flowers. The exact origin of the name is uncertain.