A World of Peppercress: Exploring the Lepidium Genus
My name is Ferb Vu, and I’m fascinated by the plant world. Today, I want to share my enthusiasm for a particular genus: Lepidium. It’s a diverse group with a surprisingly wide range of uses and ecological roles. You might know some of its members as peppercress, peppergrass, or pepperweed, and chances are you’ve encountered them without even realizing it.
What is Lepidium?
Lepidium belongs to the Brassicaceae family, which puts it in the same company as familiar vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, and mustard. This family connection gives many Lepidium species a slightly peppery, pungent taste. The genus boasts over 200 species scattered across the globe, thriving in various habitats from coastal dunes to high mountains. This adaptability is a testament to the resilience and diversity within the genus.
A Diverse Family
- Lepidium abrotanifolium Turcz.
- Lepidium acutidens (A.Gray) Howell
- Lepidium aegrum Heenan & de Lange
- Lepidium affghanum Boiss.
- Lepidium affine Ledeb.
- Lepidium afghanicum (Rech.f. & Köie) Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
- Lepidium africanum (Burm.f.) DC.
- Lepidium alashanicum H.L.Yang
- Lepidium alluaudii Maire
- Lepidium altissimum Rech.f.
- Lepidium alyssoides A.Gray
- Lepidium amelum Lepschi
- Lepidium amissum de Lange & Heenan
- Lepidium amplexicaule Willd.
- Lepidium angolense Jonsell
- Lepidium angustissimum Phil.
- Lepidium apetalum Willd.
- Lepidium appelianum Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium apterum (Lipsky) Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
- Lepidium arbuscula Hillebr.
- Lepidium arequipa Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium aretioides (Hedge) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium argentinum Thell.
- Lepidium armoracium Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
- Lepidium aschersonii Thell.
- Lepidium aucheri Boiss.
- Lepidium auriculatum Regel & Körn.
- Lepidium austrinum Small
- Lepidium banksii Kirk
- Lepidium barnebyanum Reveal
- Lepidium basuticum Marais
- Lepidium beamanii Rollins
- Lepidium beckii Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium bidentatum Montin
- Lepidium bipinnatifidum Desv.
- Lepidium bipinnatum Thunb.
- Lepidium biplicatum Hewson
- Lepidium boelckeanum Prina
- Lepidium boelckei Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium bonariense L.
- Lepidium botschantsevianum Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium botschantzevii (R.M.Vinogr.) Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
- Lepidium brachyotum (Kar. & Kir.) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium bupleuroides Rech.f.
- Lepidium burkartii Boelcke
- Lepidium buschianum Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium caespitosum Desv.
- Lepidium campestre (L.) W.T.Aiton
- Lepidium capense Thunb.
- Lepidium capitatum Hook.f. & Thomson
- Lepidium cardamine L.
- Lepidium cardiophyllum (Pavlov) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium cartilagineum (J.Mayer) Thell.
- Lepidium castellanum de Lange & Heenan
- Lepidium catapycnon Hewson
- Lepidium chalepense L.
- Lepidium chichicara Desv.
- Lepidium cordatum Willd. ex Steven
- Lepidium coronopifolium Fisch.
- Lepidium coronopus (L.) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium costaricense Thell.
- Lepidium crassius (C.L.Hitchc.) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium crassum Heenan & de Lange
- Lepidium crenatum (Greene) Rydb.
- Lepidium cumingianum Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
- Lepidium cuneiforme C.Y.Wu
- Lepidium curvinervium (Botsch. & Vved.) Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
- Lepidium cuzcoensis Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium cyclocarpum Thell.
- Lepidium davisii Rollins
- Lepidium densiflorum Schrad.
- Lepidium densipuberulum Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium depressum Thell.
- Lepidium desertorum Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Lepidium desvauxii Thell.
- Lepidium dictyotum A.Gray
- Lepidium didymum L.
- Lepidium draba L.
- Lepidium drummondii Thell.
- Lepidium eastwoodiae Wooton
- Lepidium echinatum Hewson
- Lepidium ecklonii Schrad. ex Regel
- Lepidium ecuadorense Thell.
- Lepidium englerianum (Muschl.) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium fasciculatum Thell.
- Lepidium fenestratum (Boiss.) D.A.German
- Lepidium ferganense Korsh.
- Lepidium filicaule C.L.Hitchc.
- Lepidium filisegmentum C.L.Hitchc.
- Lepidium flavum Torr.
- Lepidium flexicaule Kirk
- Lepidium flexuosum Thunb.
- Lepidium foliosum Desv.
- Lepidium fraseri Thell.
- Lepidium fremontii S.Watson
- Lepidium galapagoensis Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium genistoides Hewson
- Lepidium ginninderrense Scarlett
- Lepidium glastifolium Desf.
- Lepidium gracile (Chodat & Hassl.) Boelcke
- Lepidium graminifolium L.
- Lepidium grandifructum C.L.Hitchc.
- Lepidium heterophyllum Benth.
- Lepidium hickenii Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium hirtum (L.) Sm.
- Lepidium howei-insulae Thell.
- Lepidium huberi S.L.Welsh & Goodrich
- Lepidium hypenantion Hewson
- Lepidium hyssopifolium Desv.
- Lepidium integrifolium Nutt.
- Lepidium inyangense Jonsell
- Lepidium jaredii Brandegee
- Lepidium jarmolenkoi V.M.Vinogr.
- Lepidium johnstonii C.L.Hitchc.
- Lepidium jujuyanum Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium juvencum Heenan & de Lange
- Lepidium karataviense Regel & Schmalh.
- Lepidium karelinianum Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium kawarau Petrie
- Lepidium keniense Jonsell
- Lepidium khalkhalicum Bidarlord & D.A.German
- Lepidium kirkii Petrie
- Lepidium lacerum C.A.Mey.
- Lepidium laeteviride (P.Royen) Hewson
- Lepidium lapazianum Al-Shehbaz & S.Beck
- Lepidium lasiocarpum Nutt.
- Lepidium latifolium L.
- Lepidium latipes Hook.
- Lepidium lepidioides (Coss. & Durieu) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium leptopetalum F.Muell.
- Lepidium leventii (V.I.Dorof.) D.A.German
- Lepidium limenophylax de Lange, Rance & D.A.Norton
- Lepidium linearilobum Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium linifolium (Desv.) Steud.
- Lepidium lipskyi (N.Busch) Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
- Lepidium litwinowii (Lipsky) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium longifolium (Boiss.) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium lyratogynum Hewson
- Lepidium lyratum L.
- Lepidium maccowagei Hewson
- Lepidium macrocarpum (Hedge) D.A.German
- Lepidium makateanum Sykes
- Lepidium matau Petrie
- Lepidium medocinense (Hauman) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium merrallii F.Muell.
- Lepidium meyenii Walp.
- Lepidium meyeri Claus
- Lepidium minor (Botsch. & Vved.) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium minutiflorum (Ridl.) Hewson
- Lepidium monoplocoides F.Muell.
- Lepidium montanum Nutt.
- Lepidium mossii Thell.
- Lepidium muelleriferdinandii Thell.
- Lepidium mummenhoffianum Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium myrianthum Phil.
- Lepidium myriocarpum Sond.
- Lepidium nanum S.Watson
- Lepidium naufragorum Garn.-Jones & D.A.Norton
- Lepidium navasii (Pau) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium nesophilum Hewson ex P.S.Green
- Lepidium niloticum (Delile) Sieber ex Steud.
- Lepidium nitidum Nutt.
- Lepidium oblitum Houliston, Heenan & de Lange
- Lepidium oblongum Small
- Lepidium obtusatum Kirk
- Lepidium obtusum Basiner
- Lepidium oleraceum G.Forst. ex Sparrm.
- Lepidium olgae (R.M.Vinogr.) Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
- Lepidium oligodontum de Lange & Heenan
- Lepidium orbiculare H.St.John
- Lepidium orientale (Schrenk) Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
- Lepidium ostleri S.L.Welsh & Goodrich
- Lepidium oxycarpum Nutt.
- Lepidium oxytrichum Sprague
- Lepidium paniculatum (Regel & Schmalh.) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium panniforme de Lange & Heenan
- Lepidium papilliferum (L.F.Hend.) A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr.
- Lepidium papillosum F.Muell.
- Lepidium parodii Thell.
- Lepidium patrinioides (Regel) Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
- Lepidium pavlovii Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
- Lepidium paysonii Rollins
- Lepidium pedersenii Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium pedicellosum F.Muell.
- Lepidium peregrinum Thell.
- Lepidium perfoliatum L.
- Lepidium persicum Boiss.
- Lepidium philippianum (Kuntze) Thell.
- Lepidium phlebopetalum F.Muell.
- Lepidium pholidogynum F.Muell.
- Lepidium pinnatifidum Ledeb.
- Lepidium pinnatisectum (O.E.Schulz) C.L.Hitchc.
- Lepidium pinnatum Thunb.
- Lepidium platypetalum Hewson
- Lepidium propinquum Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
- Lepidium pseudodidymum Thell.
- Lepidium pseudohyssopifolium Hewson
- Lepidium pseudopapillosum Thell.
- Lepidium pseudoruderale Thell.
- Lepidium pseudotasmanicum Thell.
- Lepidium pterocarpum (Botsch. & Vved.) Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
- Lepidium puberulum Bunge
- Lepidium pubescens Desv.
- Lepidium pumilum Boiss. & Balansa
- Lepidium quitense Turcz.
- Lepidium rahmeri Phil.
- Lepidium ramosissimum A.Nelson
- Lepidium reichei Phil. ex Reiche
- Lepidium rekohuense de Lange & Heenan
- Lepidium rhytidocarpum (Hook.) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium rigidum Pomel
- Lepidium robustum (Pavlov) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium rotundum DC.
- Lepidium ruderale L.
- Lepidium sagittatum (Kar. & Kir.) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium sagittulatum Thell.
- Lepidium santacruzensis Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium sativum L.
- Lepidium scandens Hewson
- Lepidium schaffneri Thell.
- Lepidium schinzii Thell.
- Lepidium schlechteri Thell.
- Lepidium seditiosum de Lange, Heenan & J.R.Rolfe
- Lepidium serra H.Mann
- Lepidium serratum (Poir.) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium seydelii Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium silaifolium (Hook.f. & Thomson) Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
- Lepidium sisymbrioides Hook.f.
- Lepidium solomonii Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium songaricum Schrenk ex Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
- Lepidium sordidum A.Gray
- Lepidium spathulatum Phil.
- Lepidium spicatum Desv.
- Lepidium spinosum Ard.
- Lepidium steinbachii O.E.Schulz
- Lepidium stephan-beckii Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium strictum (S.Watson) Rattan ex B.L.Rob.
- Lepidium strongylophyllum F.Muell. ex Benth.
- Lepidium stuckertianum (Thell.) Boelcke
- Lepidium subalpinum Kom.
- Lepidium subcordatum Botsch. & Vved.
- Lepidium subulatum L.
- Lepidium suluense Marais
- Lepidium tandilense Boelcke
- Lepidium tenuicaule Kirk
- Lepidium thurberi Wooton
- Lepidium tianschanicum (Botsch. & Vved.) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium tiehmii (Rollins) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium tofaceum Rech.f.
- Lepidium tolmaczovii (Junussov) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium transvaalense Marais
- Lepidium trautvetteri (Botsch.) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium trianae Thell.
- Lepidium trifurcum Sond.
- Lepidium uzbekistanicum Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium vesicarium L.
- Lepidium villarsii Gren. & Godr.
- Lepidium violaceum (Munby) Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium virginicum L.
- Lepidium weigendii Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium werffii Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium xylodes Hewson
- Lepidium yelarbonense Al-Shehbaz
- Lepidium zambiense (Jonsell) Al-Shehbaz
Why I Find Lepidium Fascinating
What draws me to Lepidium is its combination of familiarity and hidden depths. We often overlook these plants as weeds or simple salad ingredients, but they hold a wealth of potential. Some species are being investigated for their nutritional and medicinal properties, while others offer insights into plant adaptation and evolution.
Take Lepidium draba for example. This invasive species has spread rapidly across various continents. Studying its success can help us understand how plants adapt to new environments and the potential consequences of such invasions.
The Future of Lepidium
I believe Lepidium deserves more attention. Further research into this genus could lead to new discoveries in areas like food security, medicine, and ecological restoration. Imagine harnessing the nutritional power of lesser-known Lepidium species to combat malnutrition or utilizing their medicinal properties to develop new treatments.
Moreover, understanding the ecological roles of various Lepidium species can help us develop more sustainable agricultural practices and conservation strategies. By appreciating the value of these often-overlooked plants, we can contribute to a healthier planet.
In conclusion, Lepidium is a testament to the wonders of the plant kingdom. It’s a genus full of surprises, offering us valuable resources and insights into the natural world. I encourage everyone to take a closer look at these fascinating plants – you might be surprised by what you discover.
