Species
Lepidium divaricatum
Etymology
Lepidium: scale-shaped (pods)
divaricatum: wide spreading
Authority
Lepidium W.T.Aiton
Family
Brassicaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites
Distribution
Exotic. Native to South Africa.
Habitat
In New Zealand the only known gathering (1908) was made from gravel along a railway track near Westport
Features
Perennial herb up to 1 m high, much branched, base somewhat woody. Stems and branches puberulous. Branches spreading. Leaves glaborous adaxial midrib puberulous, petiolate, basal leaves 25-50(-150) mm, linear-oblanceolate to narrowly obovate, apex acute, base cuneate, margins ciliolate, serrulate to serrate, sometimes sparingly lobed 1-2X, lobes short lanceolate margins entire; upper leaves similar, serrulate, serrate or weakly lobed. Racemes elongate, lax or subdense in fruit; rhachis puberulous. Pedicels 2.0-3.0-5.2 mm long in fruit, arcuate-spreading or ascending, adaxially puberulent. Sepals 0.7-1.0 mm long, oblong, green tinged with purple, margins membranous margins. Petals 0.3-1.0 mm long, narrowly oblong, white. Stamens 2, median. Nectaries triangular, small. Silicules 2.3-3.7 X 1.8-2.3 mm oblong to oblong-ovate, deeply notched, style included in the sinus. Seeds 1.0-1.4 x 0.5-0.8 mm, light brown.
Flowering
November - January
Flower Colours
Green,White
Fruiting
December - May
Year Naturalised
1908
Origin
South Africa
This page last updated on 7 Dec 2010