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All species that were considered to be in the genus Cardaria have recently been placed into the genus Lepidium (Al-Shehbaz and Mummenhoff 2002). This move was prompted by chloroplast DNA sequence evidence showing Cardaria clearly nested within Lepidium (Mummenhoff et al. 2001). Cardaria species have historically been placed in and out of Lepidium, but it appears that they have now found a stable phylogenetic and taxonomic position.

The following is summary of the current taxonomy of hoary cress:

There are two species, and one of these contains two subspecies.

Lepidium appelianum* Al-Shehbaz
        = C. pubescens (C.A. Mey.) Jarm.
        = Hymenophysa pubescens C.A. Mey.
        common name: globe-podded hoarycress

Lepidium draba L.
    subsp. draba
        = C. draba (L.) Desv.
        common name: heart-podded hoary cress

    subsp. chalepense (L.) Thellung
        = C. chalepensis (L.) Hand.-Mazz.
        common name: lens-podded hoarycress

*there was already a L. pubescens from South America, so that name could not be used.

Al-Shehbaz, I.A. and Mummenhoff, K. 2002. Cardaria, Coronopus, and Stroganowia are united with Lepidium (Brassicaceae). Novon 12:5-11.

Mummenhoff , K. et al. 2001. Chloroplast DNA phylogeny and biogeography of Lepidium (Brassicaceae). American Journal of Botany 88:2051-2063.

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