''Lepidium oxycarpum'' is a species of flowering plant in the
mustard family
Brassicaceae () or (the older) Cruciferae () is a medium-sized and economically important family of flowering plants commonly known as the mustards, the crucifers, or the cabbage family. Most are herbaceous plants, while some are shrubs. The le ...
known by the common names forked pepperweed and sharp-fruited pepperweed.
Distribution
It is native to
California, and it has been reported in
British Columbia and one area in
Washington. It grows in
alkaline
In chemistry, an alkali (; from ar, القلوي, al-qaly, lit=ashes of the saltwort) is a base (chemistry), basic, ionic compound, ionic salt (chemistry), salt of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal. An alkali can also be defined as ...
and
saline soils and moist areas such as
vernal pools
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are seasonal pools of water that provide habitat for distinctive plants and animals. They are considered to be a distinctive type of wetland usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe ...
and coastline.
Description
''Lepidium oxycarpum'' is a short-lived annual herb producing several erect stem branches to heights rarely exceeding 15 centimeters. The leaves are linear in shape, with those at the base up to 6 centimeters long and sometimes with narrow lobes.
The plant blooms in tiny flowers with
sepals often less than a millimeter long. The flowers may or may not have white petals also up to a millimeter long.
The fruit is a two-chambered
silique capsule, a few millimeters long which is oval or oblong. It has a notch at the tip forming a fork shape.
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment - ''Lepidium oxycarpum''Washington State Threatened Species Profile''Lepidium oxycarpum'' - Photo gallery
oxycarpum
Flora of California
Flora of British Columbia
Flora of Washington (state)
Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands
Natural history of the California Coast Ranges
Natural history of the Central Valley (California)
Natural history of the San Francisco Bay Area
Plants described in 1838
Flora without expected TNC conservation status
{{Brassicales-stub