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Lepidium montanum
Lepidium montanum Nutt.
Mountain Peppergrass, Western Peppergrass, Mountain Pepperweed, Mountain Pepperwort, Montana Pepperweed
Brassicaceae (Mustard Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: lemo2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
A round plant formed by many slender branches, each branch ending in a short dense raceme of minute white flowers. Mountain pepperwort is a 1-2 ft., dense, shrub-like biennial or short-lived perennial. Basal leaves are larger than stem leaves; all leaves may be either pinnately lobed or entire. In bloom, the plant is covered with small clusters of small, white flowers.
This species has been defined over the years by different botanical authorities into varying numbers of varieties or subspecies. The showiest peppergrass is Fremont's Peppergrass (L. fremontii), found from southeastern California to southwestern Utah, western Arizona, and northwestern Mexico; it has white flowers with petals 1/4" (5 mm) long and pods resembling broad hearts about 1/4" (6 mm) wide.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Annual , Perennial , BiennialHabit: Herb
Fruit Type: Silicle
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Flower: Flowers in 2 inch heads
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: WhiteBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MT , NM , NV , OR , TX , UT , WYNative Distribution: W. TX to e. AZ, n. to s. ID & Beaverhead Co., MT
Native Habitat: Sandy, saline, or calcareous sites
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Sandy, saline, or calcareous soils. Saline, Calcareous, Limestone-based, Caliche type, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Saline tolerant
Conditions Comments: Seeds are used as a peppery spice, thus the common name. This is a short-lived perennial so some seedlings must be allowed to survive for replacement plants.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Border, Rock gardens, Showy, Blooms ornamental, Perennial gardenUse Wildlife: Nectar-Bees, Nectar-Butterflies, Nectar-insects.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Checkered white.
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
Checkered White (Pontia protodice) Larval Host |
Propagation
Description: Propagate with cuttings or sow seed in early fall.Commercially Avail: yes
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
Bibliography
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. WasowskiBibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Lepidium montanum in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Lepidium montanum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lepidium montanum
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-16Research By: TWC Staff