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Lepidium draba - (L.)Desv.

Common Name Hoary Cress, Whitetop
Family Brassicaceae or Cruciferae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats A weed of arable fields, it is spreading rapidly in Britain[17].
Range Europe - Mediterranean to W. Asia. Naturalized in Britain[17].
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Lepidium draba Hoary Cress, Whitetop


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Luis_Fernández_García
Lepidium draba Hoary Cress, Whitetop
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cardaria_draba0.jpg

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Lepidium draba is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from May to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Lepidium draba.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Young leaves and shoots - raw in salads or cooked as a potherb[2, 61, 105, 183]. A report says that the young leaves contain the toxin hydrogen cyanide, though does not give any more details[240]. In small quantities this substance is fairly harmless, and has even been recommended as having health benefits, but caution is suggested if you eat these leaves[K]. The pungent leaves are used as a seasoning[183]. The seed is used as a condiment, it is a pepper substitute[2, 17, 61, 74, 148, 183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The plant is antiscorbutic[240]. The seeds have been used as a cure for flatulence and fish poison[240]. It is assumed that this report is referring to food poisoning caused by eating suspect fish[K].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in a sunny position in most soils.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in spring. There is very little need to encourage this plant, it is a rapidly spreading weed in Britain. Division in spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Hoary cress, Srdasica, White weed, globed-podded hoarycress, peppergrass, whitetop, whiteweed.

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Cyprus, Egypt (Sinai), Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation (Altay, Irkutsk, Kurganskaja oblast, Omsk), Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, China (Liaoning Sheng, Shandong Sheng, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu) TROPICAL ASIA: Pakistan EUROPE: Austria, Russian Federation (European part), Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica) AFRICA: Egypt

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.

Noxious Weed Information. In the US it is a noxious weed in the following areas: Alaska (whitetop) Noxious weed. Arizona (globe-podded hoary cress) Prohibited noxious weed. (globe-podded hoary cress, whitetop) Restricted noxious weed. California (lens podded hoarycress) B list (noxious weeds). Colorado (hoary cress) B list (noxious weeds). Idaho (hoary cress) Noxious weed. Iowa (perennial pepper-grass) Primary noxious weed. Kansas (hoary cress) Noxious weed. Montana (whitetop, hoary cress) Category 1 noxious weed. Nevada (whitetop, hoary cress) Noxious weed. New Mexico (hoary cress) Class A noxious weed. Oregon (whitetop, hoary cress) "B" designated weed (whitetop, hoary cress) Quarantine. South Dakota (hoary cress) Noxious weed (hoary cress) Regulated non-native plant species. Utah (hoary cress) Noxious weed. Washington (hoary cress) Class C noxious weed. Wyoming (hoary cress, whitetop) Noxious weed. A weed in much of south-east and south-west Australia

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

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 latifoliumDittander, Broadleaved pepperweedPerennial1.2 5-9  LMHSNM311
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.

 

Expert comment

Author

(L.)Desv.

Botanical References

17

Links / References

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