Practical
Plants

Lepidium campestre

Pepperwort

an annual or biennial member of the Lepidium genus in the family Brassicaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual, biennial
Height
0.6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Self. Occasionally flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Self. Occasionally flies

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked[3][4]. They are best used in the spring[5]. A hot cress-like flavour, they can be finely-chopped and added in small amounts as a flavouring in salads[2]. Immature seedpods[5] - a pungent flavour, they can be used as a flavouring in hot soups and stews[2]. The seed can be used as a pepper substitute[3].

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seedpod

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, to W. Asia and the Caucasus.
Habitat
Dry pastures, walls, banks, waysides, arable and waste land[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ. Germination should take place within 3 weeks.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils.

References

  1. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  2. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  3. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2

  4. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

  5. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

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