Smith's Pepperwort |
Lepidium heterophyllum |
![]()
Photo ©
Carl Farmer |
Locally frequent in Argyll, rare further north. On bare stony ground or seaside turf. Flower diameter c 3-3.5 mm. Fruits c 5-7 mm long. ID: Fruits as shown, with one seed each side of the midrib (visible as bulge) and a broad wing that accounts for about half the surface area of the fruit, with a style that projects beyond the fruit tip. Field Pennycress has a similar fruit but with a style much shorter than the notch in which it is housed. Other features: Has typical white crucifer flowers with 4 petals and 6 stamens. Upper leaves clasp stem at base with pointed auricles, and may be toothed or not. Leaves near base have short stalk. Fruits are on hairy stalks (hairless in Field Pennycress). |
![]()
Photo ©
Carl Farmer |