Virginia pepperweed
Family
BrassicaceaeScientific Name
Lepidium virginicum
Other Common Names:
Virginian peppercress
poorman's pepper
preppergrass
Habit
Seedlings have oval shaped, long stalked, 2-3 mm wide by 7-10 mm long cotyledons. Cotyledons are hairless and peppery to taste. The mature plant reaches heights of 10-50 cm and has erect branching stems covered with small hairs, leaves are hairless.
Leaves
Early leaves are a rosette 2-10 cm long and 5-20 mm wide lobed and toothed. This rosette is usually absent by flowering. Stem leaves are alternate and lobed, sometimes lobed and toothed.
Identifying Characteristics
Pepper taste to seed pods and cotyledons, leaves are hairless and doubly toothed.
Flower Seed Head
Flowers have white petals when present and appear in dense terminal clusters early spring through early summer.
Seed Fruit
Fruit is a round 2.5-4 mm wide flattened and dented at the apex, peppery to taste. Seeds have one straight side, one curved winged side, are light brown, and oval in shape measuring 1.5 mm long.
Where Found
Occurring throughout much of the United States in gardens, cultivated crops, landscapes, orchards and nurseries. Virginia pepperweed prefers disturbed soils but also can be found in dry soil in full sun.r
Growth Habit
upright and nonwoody
Leaf Hairs
has hairs
Leaf Shape
Varies:
lance,
oval
Leaf Arrangement
opposite
Leaf Margin
Varies:
entire,
lobed,
serrated
Leaf Structure
simple
Leaf Stalk
longer than leaf
Stem Hairs
has hairs
Stem Cross Section
round or oval
Life Cycle
winter annual
Plant Type
Herb