Lepidium

Lepidium
Lepidium flavum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Rosids
Order:Brassicales
Family:Brassicaceae
Genus:Lepidium
L.
Species

about 175-220, see text

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.[1] It includes familiar species such as garden cress, maca, and dittander. General common names include peppercress, peppergrass, and pepperwort. Some species form tumbleweeds.[2] The genus name Lepidium is a Greek word meaning 'small scale', which is thought to 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.[3]

Diversity

There are about 175,[4] to 220[1] species in the genus.[3] 10 species are found in California.[3]

Species include:

Lepidium lasiocarpum var. lasiocarpum

Notes

  1. 1 2 Lepidium. Flora of North America.
  2. Faulkner, H. W. (1917). The Mysteries of the Flowers. Frederick A. Stokes company. p. 238. page 210
  3. 1 2 3 Sia Morhardt and Emil Morhardt California Desert Flowers: An Introduction to Families, Genera, and Species, p. 101, at Google Books
  4. Mummenhoff, K., et al. (2001). Chloroplast DNA phylogeny and biogeography of Lepidium (Brassicaceae). American Journal of Botany 88(11), 2051-63.
  5. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 20 Dec 2011

References

  • Everitt, J.H.; Lonard, R.L.; Little, C.R. (2007). Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 0-89672-614-2
  • "Lepidium". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  • "Inland Lepidium recovery plan 2000-2010" (PDF). Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. 2000. Retrieved 2007-10-04.
  • D.A. Norton; P.J. de Lange (1999). "Coastal Cresses (Nau) Recovery Plan" (PDF). Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  • Species Profile: Hairy Whitetop (Lepidium appelianum). National Invasive Species Information Center, United States National Agricultural Library.


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