Lepidium strictum (S. Watson) Rattan
Family: Brassicaceae

Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)

none

Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)

pepperweed, peppergrass

Primary Disseminule Types

seed, fruit segment

Description (diagnostics are in brown)

Fruit a dehiscent 2-chambered silicle with 1 seed per chamber, disk-shaped to oblong-ovate in outline, 2.5–3.5 mm long x 2–3 mm wide, strongly compressed perpendicular to the partition, glabrous or with a few short marginal hairs, prominently reticulate-veiny, dull, apically winged, with notch 0.3–0.6 mm deep. Stylar remnant (when present) <0.1 mm long. Sepals persistent at the base of the developing fruit.

Seed semi-obovate (with one side straight) to oblong, compressed, cross-section ± triangular, 1.2–1.6 mm long x 0.7–1 mm wide x 0.2–0.3 mm thick, with a light-colored wing or rim on the curved margin. Surface orangish-brown, shiny (under magnification), minutely papillate, with a faint longitudinal groove outlining the radicle on each side of the seed (a second groove, when present, delineates the individual cotyledons).

Hilum in shallow basal notch, with whitish funicular remnant.

Embryo bent, cotyledons incumbent, endosperm lacking.

Similar Species

See Similar Species Comparison Chart and compare to similar Brassicaceae seeds.

Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)

AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI