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Peppergrass, Virginia Pepperweed
Lepidium
virginicum
lep-ID-ee-um vir-GIN-ih-kum
Brassicaceae
Native to:
North America and Mesoamerica
Florida abundance
and distribution: Throughout Florida in disturbed
areas, along roadsides, and as a crop weed.
Sun or partial shade.
Recognition:
Rosette-forming plant to 1.5’ tall.
Leaves with strong odor when crushed, alternate, irregularly serrate,
tapered basally. Tiny white
flowers with 4 petals and 6 stamens in racemes.
Fruits small disk-shaped pods (silicles) a fraction of an inch in
diameter.
Easily confused
species:
Burnweed (Erechtites hieraciifolius)
in the Asteraceae has similar rosette- and stem leaves when young, but Burnweed
has sharper teeth on the leaf margins and lacks the distinctive odor of
Peppergrass.
Contributed by: June Wilkinson
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