Lepidium oblongum is a widespread North American species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common name veiny pepperweed. It is native to Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and the western and south-central United States (from California and Oregon east as far as Mississippi).[2][3][4][5] It is present as an introduced species in Hawaii. It can grow in many types of habitats.[6]

Lepidium oblongum
Specimen collected in Hawai'i
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Lepidium
Species:
L. oblongum
Binomial name
Lepidium oblongum
Small 1903
Synonyms[1]
  • Lepidium greenei Thell.
  • Lepidium oblongum var. insulare C.L. Hitchc.

Description

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Lepidium oblongum is an annual herb with a small, branching stem up to 20 or 30 centimeters (8-12 inches) long and coated with hairs. The well-spaced leaves are divided into narrow lobes. The inflorescence is a raceme of tiny flowers made up just of sepals; there is occasionally a vestigial petal mixed in. The flowers yield fruits which are notched capsules 2 or 3 millimeters long. Flowers bloom March to August. There are two varieties of this plant; one, var. insulare, is known only from coastal California and Baja California.[7] It grows in pastures, prairies, floodplains, roadsides, and alluvial terraces.[8]

References

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  1. ^ The Plant List, Lepidium oblongum Small
  2. ^ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  3. ^ SEINet, Southwestern Biodiversity, Arizona chapter
  4. ^ Davidse, G., M. Sousa Sánchez, S. Knapp & F. Chiang Cabrera. 2015. Saururaceae a Zygophyllaceae. 2(3): v–xvii, 1–347. In G. Davidse, M. Sousa Sánchez, S. Knapp & F. Chiang Cabrera (eds.) Flora Mesoamericana Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F.
  5. ^ García-Mendoza, A. J. & J. A. Meave. 2011. Diversidad Florística de Oaxaca: de Musgos a Angispermas 1–351. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria
  6. ^ Hitchcock, C. L. 1945. The Mexican, Central American, and West Indian Lepidia. Madroño 8(4): 118–143.
  7. ^ Flora of North America, Lepidium oblongum Small, 1903.
  8. ^ "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org.
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