Lepidium alyssoides
Lepidium integrifolium
mesa pepperwort
thickleaf pepperweed
few to several from base, erect to ascending, branched throughout, (0.7–)1–4.8(–6.1) dm.
several from base (caudex), ascending, branched distally, (1–)1.5–3.5(–4) 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;
petiole (0.5–)1.5–6(–7.5) cm;
blade oblanceolate to obovate, (1.5–)2.5–7(–9) cm × (10–)15–25 mm, margins usually entire, rarely denticulate subapically.
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 narrowly lanceolate to broadly oblanceolate, 1–5 cm × 2–9(–12) mm, base cuneate, not auriculate, margins usually entire, rarely denticulate subapically.
elongated in fruit;
rachis puberulent or glabrous.
elongated in fruit;
rachis puberulent, trichomes straight, sometimes clavate.
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-obovate, (1.5–)1.8–2.5 × 0.8–1.3 mm;
petals white, obovate, (2.3)2.5–3.6(–4) × 1.5–2.2 mm, claw 0.5–1 mm;
stamens (2 or) 4 (or 6), median and lateral when 4, (erect);
filaments 1.7–2.5 mm, (glabrous);
anthers 0.5–0.8 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, (not winged), (4–)5–10 × 0.3–0.5 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.
ovate, (3–)3.2–4(–4.4) × 2–3.5 mm, apically winged, apical notch 0.1–0.3 mm deep;
valves thin, smooth, not veined, glabrous;
style 0.5–0.8(–1) mm, exserted beyond apical notch.
ovate, 1.5–1.8(–2) × 0.9–1.2(–1.5) mm.
ovate, 1.8–2 × 0.9–1.1 mm.
= 32.
Lepidium alyssoides
Lepidium integrifolium
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.
The circumscription of Lepidium integrifolium is somewhat controversial. C. L. Hitchcock (1936) treated it as two varieties or (Hitchcock 1950) two subspecies of L. montanum, whereas R. C. Rollins (1993) treated it as a distinct species with two varieties. Rollins indicated that the species has two stamens, but such occurrence is rather rare. Most commonly, it has four stamens and is readily distinguished from related species by having four nectar glands and sepals sparsely pubescent subapically with crisped trichomes. Nothing is known about the populational variation of stamen number in the species and whether one or more taxa are involved.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
CalFlora
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
