Lepidium latifolium
Sp. Pl. 2: 644. 1753.
Perennials; (rhizomes thick, caudex woody); glabrous or pubescent. Stems simple from base, erect, branched distally, (2–)3.5–12(–15) dm. Basal leaves not rosulate; petiole 1–9(–14) cm; blade elliptic-ovate to oblong, (2–)3.5–15(–25) cm × (5–)15–50(–80) mm, (leathery), margins entire or serrate. Cauline leaves sessile or shortly petiolate; blade oblong to elliptic-ovate or lanceolate, (1–)2–9(–12) cm × 3–45 mm, base cuneate, not auriculate, margins serrate or entire. Racemes (subcorymbose panicles), slightly elongated or not in fruit; rachis glabrous or sparsely puberulent, trichomes straight, cylindrical. Fruiting pedicels ascending to divaricate, straight or slightly curved, (terete), 2–5(–6) × 0.1–0.2 mm, glabrous or puberulent adaxially. Flowers: sepals suborbicular to ovate, 1–1.4 × 0.8–0.9 mm; petals white, obovate, 1.8–2.5 × (0.8–)1–1.3 mm, claw 0.7–1 mm; stamens 6; filaments 0.9–1.4 mm, (glabrous); anthers 0.4–0.5 mm. Fruits oblong-elliptic to broadly ovate or suborbicular, (1.6–)1.8–2.4(–2.7) × 1.3–1.8 mm, apically not winged, apical notch 0(–0.1) mm deep; valves thin, smooth, not veined, glabrous or sparsely pilose; style 0.05–0.15 mm, exserted beyond apical notch (when present). Seeds oblong, (0.8–)1–1.2 × 0.6–0.9 mm. 2n = 24.
Phenology: Flowering Jun–Sep.
Habitat: Pastures, grasslands, disturbed places, fields, roadsides, slopes, saline meadows, stream banks, waste grounds, dry flats, sagebrush and pinyon-juniper communities, barren hillsides, ditch banks, edge of marshes
Elevation: 0-2500 m
Distribution
Introduced; Alta., B.C., Que., Ariz., Calif., Colo., Conn., Idaho, Ill., Kans., Mass., Mo., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.Mex., N.Y., Oreg., Tex., Utah, Wash., Wyo., s Europe, Asia, n Africa, introduced also in Mexico (Durango, San Luis Potosí), Australia.
Discussion
Selected References
None.