Lepidium latipes
Encyclopedia
Lepidium latipes is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family
known by the common name San Diego pepperweed. It is native to California
and Baja California
, where it grows in alkaline soils
in a number of habitat types.
of many tiny, hairy flowers with green petals, their sepal
s packed between them. The fruit is a cylindrical, oblong capsule about half a centimeter long.
Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae, a medium sized and economically important family of flowering plants , are informally known as the mustards, mustard flowers, the crucifers or the cabbage family....
known by the common name San Diego pepperweed. It is native to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, where it grows in alkaline soils
Alkalinity
Alkalinity or AT measures the ability of a solution to neutralize acids to the equivalence point of carbonate or bicarbonate. The alkalinity is equal to the stoichiometric sum of the bases in solution...
in a number of habitat types.
Description
This is an annual herb producing a short, thick, hairy stem generally under 10 centimeters tall but sometimes taller. Leaves are linear in shape and several centimeters long. The plant produces a dense inflorescenceInflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
of many tiny, hairy flowers with green petals, their sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s packed between them. The fruit is a cylindrical, oblong capsule about half a centimeter long.