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Lepidium latifolium - L.

Common Name Dittander, Broadleaved pepperweed
Family Brassicaceae or Cruciferae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Salt marshes and wet sands[17] on the south and east coasts[5].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and W. Asia.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Lepidium latifolium Dittander, Broadleaved pepperweed


Lepidium latifolium Dittander, Broadleaved pepperweed
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Lepidium latifolium is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Meadow; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Root
Edible Uses: Condiment

Young leaves - raw or cooked[2, 61, 74]. A very hot cress-like flavour[K]. The leaves are nice when used in small quantities as a flavouring in salads[K]. Some reports also suggest using them as a potherb[183], though they have always seemed to be too strong for us to want to try this[K]. The leaves are available very early in the year[K]. Root - it can be grated and made into a sauce which is used as a horseradish substitute[2, 5, 183]. It has a pungently hot flavour. Seed - used as a condiment[177, 183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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Antiscorbutic  Depurative  Hepatic  Kidney  Resolvent  Stomachic

The plant is antiscorbutic, depurative and stomachic[61, 240]. An infusion of the plant is used in the treatment of liver and kidney diseases, it increases cardiac amplitude, decreases frequency and regulates the rhythm[240]. It is also used as a resolvent in the treatment of skin diseases[240].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Insecticide

Used as an insecticide[100]. No further details are given, but it is likely to be a strong infusion of the leaves and stems that is used.

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A very easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils in sun or light shade. Plants have been surviving quite happily with us, and are still spreading freely, in dense grass that is rarely cut[K]. Dittander was formerly cultivated as a food condiment in Britain and in ancient Greece[17, 183]. It is a very invasive plant, capable of spreading more than a metre per year by means of its aggressive root system[K]. It produces new growth early in the year and so can be a useful salad ingredient in late winter[K].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the spring. Division in spring. Plant them out direct into their permanent positions. Division is very simple and succeeds at almost any time of the year[K].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Azerbaijan, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation (Gorno-Altay, Altay, Krasnoyarsk (south), Irkutsk (south), Kurganskaja oblast, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Tyumen (south)), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, China (Gansu Sheng, Hebei Sheng, Heilongjiang Sheng, Henan Sheng, Liaoning Sheng, Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, Ningxia Huizi Zizhiqu, Qinghai Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng, Shandong Sheng, Shanxi Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu, Xizang Zizhiqu) TROPICAL ASIA: India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir), Pakistan (north) EUROPE: Denmark, United Kingdom, Sweden (south), Russian Federation-European part (European part (south)), Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Romania, Spain, France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Algeria (north), Egypt (north), Morocco

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Lepidium apetalum Annual/Biennial0.3 -  LMHSNM22 
Lepidium campestrePepperwort, Field pepperweedAnnual/Biennial0.6 0-0  LMHSNDM200
Lepidium chilense  0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Lepidium densiflorumCommon PepperweedAnnual/Biennial0.5 0-0  LMHSNDM210
Lepidium diffusum  0.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Lepidium fremontiiDesert PepperweedPerennial0.5 -  LMHSNDM20 
Lepidium graminifoliumGrassleaf pepperweedPerennial0.1 0-0  LMHSNDM20 
Lepidium hyssopifoliumHyssopleaf pepperweedAnnual/Biennial0.0 0-0  LMHSNM10 
Lepidium iberis Annual0.3 -  LMHSNM11 
Lepidium incisum Annual0.2 -  LMHSNM10 
Lepidium intermedium Annual/Biennial0.3 -  LMHSNM20 
Lepidium meyeniiMacaPerennial0.1 0-0  LMHSNM530
Lepidium nitidumShining Pepperweed, Howell's pepperweedAnnual0.3 0-0  LMHSNM202
Lepidium oleraceum Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Lepidium perfoliatumClasping pepperweedAnnual/Biennial0.3 0-0  LMHSNM110
Lepidium rotundumVeined PeppercressPerennial0.2 -  LMHSNM20 
Lepidium ruderaleNarrow Leaved Peppergrass, Rroadside pepperweedAnnual/Biennial0.3 0-0  LMHSNM21 
Lepidium sativumCress, Gardencress pepperweedAnnual0.5 6-9  LMHSNM312
Lepidium spp.Perennial LepidiumPerennial1.2 3-10 FLMHSNM532
Lepidium virginicumWild Pepper Grass, Virginia pepperweed, Intermediate pepperweed, Menzies' pepperweed, Hairy pepperweAnnual/Biennial0.5 0-0  LMHSNM220

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Botanical References

17

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