Peppercress

<i>Lepidium</i>

Lepidium

Genus of flowering plants in the cabbage family Brassicaceae

For the aquatic fern also called 'pepperwort', see Marsilea minuta.

Lepidium is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.[2] It includes familiar species such as garden cress, maca, and dittander. General common names include peppercress, peppergrass, pepperweed, and pepperwort. Some species form tumbleweeds.[3] The genus name Lepidium is a Greek word meaning 'small scale', which is thought to be derived from a folk medicine usage of the plant to treat leprosy, which cause small scales on the skin. Another meaning is related to the small scale-like fruit.[4]

Quick Facts Lepidium, Scientific classification ...

Species

Lepidium latifolium on the Kattegat
Lepidium lasiocarpum var. lasiocarpum
Lepidium fremontii
Main article: List of Lepidium species

Plants of the World Online accepts 265 species in the genus.[1] 10 species are found in California.[4]

Species include:

See also

  • Everitt, J.H.; Lonard, R.L.; Little, C.R. (2007). Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 0-89672-614-2
  • "Lepidium". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 15 March 2023.

References

  1. [1]
    Lepidium L. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  2. [2]
    Lepidium. Flora of North America.
  3. [3]
    Faulkner, H. W. (1917). The Mysteries of the Flowers. Frederick A. Stokes company. p. 238. page 210
  4. [4]
    Sia Morhardt and Emil Morhardt California Desert Flowers: An Introduction to Families, Genera, and Species , p. 101, at Google Books
  5. [5]
    Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 20 Dec 2011
  6. [6]
    Hagwood, Sheri. "Sensitive Plants of the JRA" (PDF). Idaho BLM. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
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