Lepidium virginicum L.

Peppergrass

About plant names...

Peppergrass, a member of the mustard family, is named for its pepper-like flavor. It is native to the eastern United States, but widely distributed elsewhere. It has been used as a flavoring agent for thousands of years. It is found on roadsides, in fields, waste areas, distrubed sites, prairies, and pastures.

Plants: Plants start life as a low-growing rosette. (At least that’s what I read—they don’t attract much notice and I couldn’t find photos of them.) Later, stems, sometimes branched, reach 9-18″ (22-45 cm) in height.

Leaves: The basal rosette leaves are spatula-shaped, some­times toothed or lobed, 1-4″ (2.5-10 cm) × ¼-1″ (6.3-25 mm). Stem leaves are up to 3½″ (8.9 cm) × ¾″ (1.9 cm), more linear, less often toothed, and sessile (connected directly to the stem).

Flowers: Flowers form cylindrical racemes 2-4″ (5-10 cm) long, with tiny white flowers. Each flower is less than ⅛″ (3.2 mm) around, has four white petals and four green sepals.

Fruits: Flowers are replaced by seedpods, working up from the bottom. Each seedpod somewhat resembles a little spoon: it is flat, oval, with a central dividing partition and a small notch at the end, on a petiole about ¼″ (6.3 mm) long. They are green, turning to brown. Sometimes the entire dried seed head breaks off and is carried elsewhere by the wind.

Edibility: Young leaves, which contain protein, iron, and vitamins A and C, can be sautéed or used in salads. Seedpods can substitute for black pepper. Roots, washed, crushed and mixed with vinegar, produce a horseradish substitute.

Medical: Preparations made from the roots have historically been used for both the treatment of diarrhea and consti­pation. Think about it! There are no substantiated medical uses of this species.

Online References:

Illinoiswildflowers.info

Minnesota Wildflowers

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Www.ediblewildfood.com

The Jepson Manual

References:

Multiple Authors, PDR for Herbal Medicines, Thomson Healthcare Inc., 2007, p. 168

8/25/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 17 × 12″ (44 × 29 cm)

7/9/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (15 × 23 cm)

9/10/2016 · Arlington St., Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

6/23/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 17 × 12″ (44 × 29 cm)

7/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 1 × 1½′ (31 × 47 cm)

11/5/2009 · Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 3 × 2″ (8.3 × 5.5 cm)

6/26/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Dunstable, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)

Lepidium virginicum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

6/26/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Dunstable, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)

6/23/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)

7/29/2023 · By Jacquelyn Boyt

7/4/2013 · Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)

7/9/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm)

11/5/2009 · Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 3 × 2″ (8.3 × 5.5 cm)

7/28/2009 · Near Nashua River Boat Ramp, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) ID is uncertain

7/4/2013 · Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm)

6/26/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Dunstable, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)

Range:

About this map...