Lepidium alyssoides
Lepidium crenatum
mesa pepperwort
alkali pepperweed
few to several from base, erect to ascending, branched throughout, (0.7–)1–4.8(–6.1) dm.
simple from base, erect, branched distally, (2–)3–8(–11) dm.
often not rosulate;
petiole 1–6 cm;
blade pinnately lobed, (1–)1.5–8(–11) cm × (5–)10–35 mm, margins (of lobes) entire or denticulate.
rosulate (on sterile shoots);
petiole (1.5–)2.5–8(–10) cm;
blade oblanceolate to spatulate, (2–)3–7(–9) cm × 5–23(–32) mm, margins crenate to serrate-crenate.
sessile;
blade linear, (0.8–)1.3–7(–9.5) cm × (0.7–)1–2(–3) mm, base attenuate, not auriculate, margins entire.
shortly petiolate or sessile;
blade oblong to oblanceolate, 1–3.5 cm × 4–15 mm, base cuneate, not auriculate, margins entire.
elongated in fruit;
rachis puberulent or glabrous.
(subcorymbose panicles), slightly elongated in fruit;
rachis puberulent, trichomes straight.
sepals ovate to oblong, 1–2 × 0.8–1 mm;
petals white, suborbicular, 2–3 × 1–2 mm, claw 0.5–1.5 mm;
stamens 6;
filaments 1.5–2 mm, (glabrous);
anthers 0.2–0.4 mm.
sepals oblong to ovate, (1–)1.3–1.8(–2) × 0.9–1.2 mm;
petals white, suborbicular to broadly obovate, (1.8–)2–3 × 1.3–2 mm, claw 0.5–1 mm;
stamens 6;
filaments 1.4–1.6 mm, (glabrous);
anthers 0.5–0.7 mm.
divaricate to horizontal, straight or recurved to somewhat sigmoid, (terete), 3.5–8(–11) × 0.2 mm, glabrous or puberulent adaxially.
divaricate-ascending to horizontal, straight, (terete), 3–6(–8) × 0.2–0.25 mm, puberulent adaxially.
broadly ovate, 2–3.7(–4.3) × (1.5–)1.8–2.9(–3.4) mm, apically winged, apical notch 0.1–0.3(–0.4) mm deep;
valves thin, smooth, not veined, glabrous;
style 0.2–0.6 mm, exserted beyond apical notch.
broadly ovate, (2.5–)3–3.5(–4) × (2–)2.3–2.8 mm, apically winged, apical notch 0.1–0.2mm deep;
valves thin, smooth, not veined, glabrous;
style 0.2–0.6 mm, exserted beyond apical notch.
ovate, 1.5–1.8(–2) × 0.9–1.2(–1.5) mm.
ovate, 1.5–2 × 1–1.3 mm.
= 32.
Lepidium alyssoides
Lepidium crenatum
Of the five varieties of Lepidium alyssoides recognized by R. C. Rollins (1993), one (var. mexicanum Rollins) is a short-tufted form of the species restricted to Mexico that does not seem to merit recognition, another (var. junceum) is a glabrescent form of the type variety, a third (var. eastwoodiae) is treated below as a distinct species, and the fourth (var. angustifolium) is included here within L. alyssoides.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
Lepidium crenatum is known from Delta, Moffatt, Montezuma, and Montrose counties in Colorado. It was reported from Utah by C. L. Hitchcock (1936) and R. C. Rollins (1993), but we have not seen any material to confirm its occurrence there.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
CalFlora
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
