Lepidium campestre(L.) R.Br. Field Pepperweed

Lepidium campestre(L.) R.Br. - Field Pepperweed

Scientific Description:

Annual or biennial, 10−50 cm, single or many-stemmed, simple or much branched, densely covered with short hairs. Basal leaves entire or lyrate, usually withered before flowers appear. Lower stem leaves oblong-lanceolate, shortly petiolate. Upper stem leaves oblong-lanceolate, amplexicaul, sagittate at base, entire or crenate. Petals white, 3 × 1 mm, including a 1.5 mm claw. Siliculae covered with small scale-like vesicles, 5−7 × 5−6 mm, emarginate at apex; style slightly exserted from sinus; septum 4 × 2.3 mm. Seeds dark brown, papillate.

Flowering time: April−June.

Habitat: Waste places, dry slopes, s.l.−1000 m.

Reference:

Hedge IC (1965). Lepidium campestre (L.) R.Br., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 1: 280.

Public Description:

Lepidium campestre, known as “field pepperwort” or “field pepperweed”, is native to Europe, West Asia and the Caucasus. It is an annual or biennial herb with white flowers, and grows up to 50 cm in length. It blooms between April and June and is found in waste places and dry slopes. Its edible leaves have protein, vitamin A and Vitamin C and are used as greens for salads. The fruits and seeds can be used as a spice, with a taste between black pepper and mustard.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2015). http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lepidium+campestre, Accessed date: 28.12.2015.

Anonymous 2 (2015). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidium_campestre, Accessed date: 28.12.2015.

Mutlu B (2012). Lepidium L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 284−287.