''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.''Lepidium''.
Flora of North America. It includes familiar species such as

garden cress Cress (''Lepidium sativum''), sometimes referred to as garden cress (or curly cress) to distinguish it from Cress (disambiguation), similar plants also referred to as cress (from old Germanic ''cresso'' which means sharp, spicy), is a rather fas ...

, maca, and dittander. General

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

s include peppercress, peppergrass, pepperweed, and pepperwort. Some species form tumbleweeds. page 210 The genus name ''Lepidium'' is a Greek word meaning 'small scale', which is thought to be derived from a folk medicine usage of the plant to treat leprosy, which cause small scales on the skin. Another meaning is related to the small scale-like fruit.Sia Morhardt and Emil Morhardt

Diversity

There are about 175 to 220 species in the genus. 10 species are found in California. Species include: * ''

Lepidium africanum ''Lepidium africanum'' is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Brassicaceae Brassicaceae () or (the older) Cruciferae () is a medium-sized and economically important family of flowering plants commonly known as the mustards, th ...

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Lepidium amelum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium armoracia ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium apetalum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 20 Dec 2011
/ref> * ''

Lepidium arbuscula ''Lepidium arbuscula'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common names ''`anaunau'' and Waianae Range pepperwort. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the Waianae Mountains on the island of ...

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Lepidium banksii ''Lepidium banksii'', known as coastal peppercress, is a rare species of flowering plant from the family Brassicaceae. It is endemic to New Zealand, formerly found around the coast of the northern South Island but now critically endangered. Dis ...

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Lepidium barnebyanum ''Lepidium barnebyanum'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae known by the common names Barneby's pepperweed, Barneby's pepper-grass, and Barneby's ridge-cress. It is endemic to Utah, where there is a single population ...

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Lepidium biplicatum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium bonariense ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium campestre ''Lepidium campestre'', the field pepperwort or field pepperweed or field cress, is usually a biennial with some form of annual plant in the Brassicaceae or mustard family, native to Europe, but commonly found in North America as an invasive wee ...

'' – field pepperwort, field cress * ''

Lepidium catapycnon ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium coronopus ''Lepidium coronopus'', (swine cress, creeping wart cress, or greater swine cress), is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family which is native to parts of Africa, western Asia and Europe, growing in shingle banks, wasteland or cultivat ...

'' – swine cress * ''

Lepidium davisii ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia. * ''

Lepidium densiflorum ''Lepidium densiflorum'' is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common names common pepperweed and prairie peppergrass. It is a common and widespread plant in North America, where it grows in many habitats across Cana ...

'' – common pepperweed * ''

Lepidium desvauxii ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium dictyotum ''Lepidium dictyotum'' is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common names alkali pepperweed and alkali pepperwort. It is native to the far western United States. It grows in dry saline and alkaline soils, such as dr ...

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Lepidium didymum ''Lepidium didymum'', the lesser swine-cress, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. Description ''Lepidium didymum'' is an annual or biennial herb with decumbent or ascending and glabrous green stems, up to long, radiatin ...

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Lepidium draba ''Lepidium draba'', the whitetop or hoary cress, or Thanet cress, is a rhizomatous perennial flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is native to western Asia and southeastern Europe and widely introduced elsewhere. Description Whiteto ...

'' – hoary cress * ''

Lepidium drummondii ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium echinatum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium ecuadoriense ''Lepidium ecuadoriense'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction ...

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Lepidium englerianum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium fasciculatum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium flavum ''Lepidium flavum'' is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common name yellow pepperweed. It is native to California, Nevada, and Baja California, where it grows in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. The species epithet ...

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Lepidium flexicaule ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium foliosum'' – leafy peppercress * ''

Lepidium fremontii ''Lepidium fremontii'', the desert pepperweed, is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family which is native to the southwestern United States, where it grows on sandy desert flats and the rocky slopes of nearby hills and mountains. It ta ...

'' – desert pepperweed * ''

Lepidium genistoides ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium ginninderrense'' * ''

Lepidium graminifolium ''Lepidium graminifolium'', the grassleaf pepperweed, is a species of annual herb in the family Brassicaceae. They have a self-supporting growth form and simple, broad leaves. Flowers are visited by ''Ruiziella luctuosa''. Individuals can grow to ...

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Lepidium howei-insulae '' Lepidium howei-insulae '', commonly known as mustard & cress, is a flowering plant in the mustard and cabbage family. The specific epithet alludes to Lord Howe Island, where it is found. Description It is a perennial subshrub, sometimes with ...

'' – mustard & cress * ''

Lepidium hypenantion ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium hyssopifolium ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium heterophyllum ''Lepidium heterophyllum'', (Smith's cress or Smith's pepperwort), is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family which is native to parts of western Europe, growing in shingle banks, wasteland or cultivated fields. Description ''Lepidium ...

'' – Smith's pepperwort, Smith's cress * '' Lepidium jaredii'' – Jared's pepperweed * ''

Lepidium lasiocarpum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium latifolium ''Lepidium latifolium'', known by several common names including perennial pepperweed, broadleaved pepperweed, pepperwort, or peppergrass, dittander, dittany, and tall whitetop, is a perennial plant that is a member of the mustard and cabbage fa ...

'' – pepperweed, dittander * ''

Lepidium latipes ''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. Description ...

'' * '' Lepidium lyratogynum'' * ''

Lepidium merrallii ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium meyenii'' (syn. ''L. peruvianum'') – maca * ''

Lepidium monoplocoides ''Lepidium monoplocoides'', the winged peppercress, is a nationally endangered plant species endemic to inland south-eastern Australia. The winged peppercress can grow from 15 up to 20 centimetres tall. This plant has long, slender leaves. Becau ...

'' – winged peppercress * ''

Lepidium montanum ''Lepidium montanum'' is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common names mountain pepperweed, mountain peppergrass, mountain pepperwort, and mountain pepperplant. It is native to western North America from Oregon to M ...

'' – western pepperweed, mountain pepperweed * ''

Lepidium nanum ''Lepidium nanum'', the dwarf pepperweed, is a plant species native to the US states of Nevada and Utah. It is known from four counties in Nevada ( Nye, Elko, White Pine and Eureka) but only one in Utah (Tooele County Tooele County ( ) is ...

'' – dwarf pepperweed * ''

Lepidium nesophilum '' Lepidium nesophilum '' is a species of flowering plant in the Brassicaceae, mustard and cabbage family that is endemic to the subtropical Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand. It is a Perennial plant, perennial ...

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Lepidium nitidum ''Lepidium nitidum'', known by the common name shining pepperweed, is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family. It is native to far western North America from Washington, through Nevada and California, into Baja California. It thrives ...

'' – shining pepperweed * ''

Lepidium oblongum ''Lepidium oblongum'' is a widespread North American species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common name veiny pepperweed. It is native to Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and the western and south-central United States (fro ...

'' * '' Lepidium oleraceum'' – Cook's scurvy grass (near extinct) * ''

Lepidium oxycarpum ''Lepidium oxycarpum'' is a species of flowering plant in the Brassicaceae, mustard family known by the common names forked pepperweed and sharp-fruited pepperweed. Distribution It is native to California, and it has been reported in British Col ...

'' – forked pepperweed * '' Lepidium oxytrichum'' * ''

Lepidium papilliferum ''Lepidium papilliferum'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common names Idaho pepperweed and slickspot peppergrass. It is endemic to Idaho in the United States, where it is mostly limited to a specific habit ...

'' – slickspot peppergrass * ''

Lepidium papillosum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium pedicellosum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium peregrinum'' * ''

Lepidium perfoliatum ''Lepidium perfoliatum'' is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common names clasping pepperweed and perfoliate pepperwort. It is native to Europe and Asia and it can be found in other parts of the world as an introdu ...

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Lepidium peruvianum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium phlebopetalum ''Lepidium phlebopetalum'', commonly known as veined peppercress, is a plant of the Brassicaceae family that is endemic to parts of Australia. Description The annual or perennial herbaceous plants are tall or have a sprawling habitat. The le ...

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Lepidium pholidogynum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium pinnatifidum ''Lepidium pinnatifidum'' is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known in English by the common name featherleaf pepperweed. Distribution The plant is native to Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East.Űnal, M., et al. (2007)A n ...

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Lepidium platypetalum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium pseudohyssopifolium ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium pseudoruderale ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium pseudotasmanicum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium puberulum ''Lepidium puberulum'' is an annual herb in the family Brassicaceae, endemic to the west coast of Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Aus ...

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Lepidium quitense ''Lepidium quitense'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It occurs only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed hab ...

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Lepidium rotundum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium ruderale ''Lepidium ruderale'' is species of flowering plants in the mustard or cabbage family, Brassicaceae. It is native to temperate Asia and northern and eastern Europe. It has also naturalized in southwestern Europe and North America N ...

'' – narrow-leaved pepperwort * ''

Lepidium sagittulatum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium sativum Cress (''Lepidium sativum''), sometimes referred to as garden cress (or curly cress) to distinguish it from similar plants also referred to as cress (from old Germanic ''cresso'' which means sharp, spicy), is a rather fast-growing, edible herb ...

'' – garden cress * ''

Lepidium scandens ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium squamatum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium strictum ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium thurberi ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Lepidium virginicum ''Lepidium virginicum'', also known as least pepperwort or Virginia pepperweed, is an herbaceous plant in the Mustard plant, mustard family (Brassicaceae). It is native to much of North America, including most of the United States and Mexico and ...

'' – Virginia peppercress * ''

Lepidium xylodes ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Species Profile: Hairy Whitetop (''Lepidium appelianum'').
National Invasive Species Information Center, United States National Agricultural Library. Brassicaceae genera Tumbleweeds {{Brassicales-stub