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.