Pepperweed (7)

Lepidium, commonly called Pepperweed, is a genus in the mustard family with distinctive small, round, flat seed pods and small white flowers. Many are considered weeds. See other Mustards, and some not so weedy, Alpine Smelowskia, Brookcress, Drummond's Rockcress and Watercress.

	Mesa Pepperweed Lepidium alyssoides Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae) AKA: Southern Pepperweed, Mesa Pepperwort Photo taken on: August 4, 2014 Location: Plaza Blanca, Abiquiu, NM Life Zones: Plains to foothills Habitat: Dry areas, washes, canyons Grows to 20" with branched stems from a woody base. Basal leaves may be in a rosette and are lobed. Stem leaves are narrow with smooth edges. Flower clusters are at the end of the branches. Flora of North America reference.
	Field Pepperweed Lepidium campestre Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae) AKA: Field Pepperwort, Field Cress, Cow Cress, Cream-Anther Field Pepperwort Photo taken on: July 10, 2019 Location: CB South, GV, CO Life Zones: Plains to montane Habitat: Disturbed areas, fields, A fuzzy plant growing 5" to 20" with erect stems branching from a basal rosette and again near the top. Stems and leaves are covered with fine hairs that give it a greyish-green appearance. Basal leaves have stalks, are oblong and are shallowly lobed. The numerous stem leaves clasp the stem and are shallowly toothed. Tiny flowers grow in a cluster 1/2" across at the top of the stalk which elongates as much as 6" as it produces seeds. Flat, oblong, egg-shaped seedpods are less than 1/4" long with a small notch at the tip. Similar in growth habit to Common Pepperweed but more robust. Lepidium campestre is the only Lepidium species that is densely hairy throughout and has lobed, clasping leaves. Flora of North America reference.
	Common Pepperweed Lepidium densiflorum Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae) AKA: Green-flowered Peppergrass, Miner's Pepperwort, Prairie Pepperweed Photo taken on: July 12, 2019 Location: Almont, CO Life Zones: Plains to montane Habitat: Disturbed areas, fields, roadsides Grows 10" to 20" high with a single erect stem that branches at the top. Basal leaves wilt by flowering. Lower stem leaves are 3" long and toothed, upper stem leaves are less toothed, shorter and narrower. Flowers less than 1/8" across with greenish sepals and tiny white petals, sometimes absent, grow in a cluster less than 1/2" across at the top of stalks from the upper leaf axils. The stalk elongates as it produces seeds. Flat, oval seedpods are about 1/8" long with a small notch at the tip. Flora of North America reference.
	Pepperweed Whitetop Lepidium draba (Cardaria draba) Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae) AKA: Whiteweed, Hoary Cress, Whitetop Photo taken on: May 20, 2009 Location: White Rock, NM Life Zones: Plains to foothills Habitat: Disturbed soil Grows to 2 feet in dense clumps with stout stems. Leaves are grayish-green and clasp the stems, basal leaves wither at flowering. Tiny white flowers grow in flat-topped clusters 2 inches across. Seeds are heart-shaped. It is very invasive. NOXIOUS Flora of North America reference.
	Broadleaved Pepperweed Lepidium latifolium (Cardaria latifolia) Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae) AKA: Tall Whitetop, Perennial Peppergrass, Tall Pepperweed, Giant Whiteweed Photo taken on: July 1, 2014 Location: El Rito, NM Life Zones: Plains to foothills Habitat: Disturbed areas, wet areas, roadsides, pastures Grows 3 to 5 ft tall with oval-shaped waxy leaves on the stems and long strap-like basal leaves. Tiny flowers grow in dense clusters. It is very invasive. NOXIOUS Flora of North America reference.
	Mountain Pepperweed Lepidium montanum Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae) AKA: Western Peppergrass Photo taken on: May 6, 2010 Location: Black Canyon NP, CO Life Zones: Foothills to montane Habitat: Sandy, gravelly, disturbed soil, roadsides Grows to 20". In the spring it is bright green with lobed basal leaves and narrow stem leaves. Flowers are tiny and fragrant. By late summer it has an open, shrubby appearance, top heavy with flowers. The stems become woody and the basal leaves shriveled. Flora of North America reference. The plants below key out to Lepidium montanum but are quite distinctive, in shape, time of flowering and habitat. The Flora of North America says "There is little agreement among North American authors as to the characters emphasized, the number of infraspecific taxa, their ranks, and their synonymies in treatments of Lepidium montanum." so who am I to try?
	Mountain Pepperweed Lepidium montanum Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae) AKA: Western Peppergrass Photo taken on: July 30, 2014 Location: Rio Chama, Abiquiu, NM Life Zones: Foothills Habitat: Sandy soil Growing about 2 feet tall. Upper stem leaves entire, lower stem leaves divided.
	Mountain Pepperweed Lepidium montanum Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae) AKA: Western Peppergrass Photo taken on: August 4, 2014 Location: Plaza Blanca, Abiquiu, NM Life Zones: Foothills Habitat: Sandy soil Stems about 2 feet long. Stem leaves divided. Basal leaves withered. Flowers in long, heavy clusters.
	Mountain Pepperweed Lepidium montanum Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae) AKA: Western Peppergrass Photo taken on: August 26, 2014 Location: SR 285 NM/CO State line Life Zones: Foothills Habitat: Disturbed soil, roadsides Many plants growing in the area, about 1 foot tall. Leaves deeply lobed.
	Manybranched Pepperweed Lepidium ramosissimum Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae) AKA: Branched Pepperwort Photo taken on: July 13, 2019 Location: Almont Triangle, GV, CO Life Zones: Foothills to montane Habitat: Sagebrush, pine woodlands, waste ground Grows to 2 feet tall with many branches from the base. Basal leaves are deeply lobed and withered at flowering. Middle stem leaves are less lobed and smaller, upper leaves are narrow and have smooth edges. Flowers are 1/8" across in dense clusters 3/4" across which elongate as they mature. Seeds are oval/elliptical with a tiny notch at the tip. Flora of North America reference.

White/Cream Round Clusters