perennial pepperweed
Lepidium latifolium L.
Description from Invasive.org
- Appearance
- Lepidium latifolium is a perennial that can grow from 1-5 ft. (0.3-1.5 m) in height. In the late fall to early spring a rosette of leaves develops with 4-12 in. (10-30 cm) long and 1-2 in. (2.5-5 cm) wide, toothed leaves. Plants emerge from thick, minimally branched roots or semi-woody crowns. Individuals remain as a rosette for several weeks before the stem elongates.
- Foliage
- Rosette leaves are long petiolate. Cauline (stem) leaves are alternate, 1-3 in. (2.5-7.6 cm) long and oblong.
- Flowers
- Flowering occurs in the late spring to summer, when flat, dense clusters of flowers develop at the apex of the flowering stem. Individual flowers are 4-petaled and white.
- Fruit
- The fruit is a round to oval, hairy capsule that is 0.06 in. (1.5 mm) in diameter. It contains a single seed.
- Ecological Threat
- Lepidium latifolium invades coastal wetlands, riverbanks, marshes, rangelands, and roadsides. It can form dense monocultures that can increase in size over time crowding out native species. This plant was accidentally introduced into the United States around 1936 as contaminant in seed. It is native to Eurasia.
Resources
- Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy
- Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
Selected Images from Invasive.org
View All Images at Invasive.org
Flower(s)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Feature(s) Roots
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s) in flower
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Infestation
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s) Basal rosettes
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Infestation
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Fruit(s)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
