Argentinian Peppercress
Lepidium bonariense
Much-branched plant to 50 cm high, finely hairy with weak or reflexed hairs. Tiny white-petalled inconspicuous flowers. Densely covered in circular greenish-white circular seed pods with a shallow open notch in the top. The stem for the seedpod is hairy n the upper surface.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Flora Type | Herbs |
| Distinctive Features | Stem leaves have fine sable-like hairs on the margins. |
| Biology | Annual or biennial in disturbed sites. Native of South America but is now a pan-tropical weed. Naturalized throughout the eastern and southern Australia. Also on Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands.The leaf and stems of Lepidium species were used by Aboriginal peoples as a food source, steaming them as a green. |
| Native Status | Introduced |
| Taxonomy | |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants) |
| Class | Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants) |
| Order | Brassicales |
| Family | Brassicaceae |
| Genus | Lepidium |
| Species | bonariense |
All Lepidium are anti-scorbutic. In traditional medicine, a tincture is used to treat affections of the breasts, headaches, indigestion and rheumatism. It is much used as a domestic remedy in Brazil, and is used for all the purposes that Arnica is used.
| Interesting Facts | |
|---|---|
| Similar Species | Superficial likeness to the common annual weed Shepherd's Purse Capsella bursa-pastoris which has leaves confined to the base, and flowers with white petals. |
| Native Status | Introduced |