Virginia pepperweed

June 16, 2015

Lepidium virginicum L. Brassicaceae (Mustard family)

Life cycle

Erect winter of summer annual.

Virginia pepperweed mature plant
Virginia pepperweed mature plant.

Leaves

Leaves initially develop from a basal rosette. Lower leaves are oval with toothed margins on long petioles. Mature leaves are irregularly lobed, smooth and tapering to the petiole, and hairless. Upper leaves are alternate, toothed or entire, lanceolate and pointed.

Virginia pepperweed rosette
Virginia pepperweed rosette.

Stems

Erect, branched with small hairs, mostly 1.5- to 2-foot-tall stems bolt from a basal rosette to flower.

Virginia pepperweed flowers and fruit
Virginia pepperweed flowering stalk with leaves.

Flowers and fruit

White to greenish flowers with four small petals are found in terminal clusters. Fruit are flat, round to oval, distinctly winged, .25 inch-wide pods with a shallow notch.

Virginia pepperweed flowers and fruit
Virginia pepperweed flowers and fruit.

Reproduction

Seeds.

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