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Lepidium sativum - L.

Common Name Cress, Gardencress pepperweed
Family Brassicaceae or Cruciferae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known in a truly wild situation.
Range Of uncertain origin, possibly Iran. Naturalized in Britain.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Lepidium sativum Cress, Gardencress pepperweed


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Vdegroot
Lepidium sativum Cress, Gardencress pepperweed
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 2: 166.

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Lepidium sativum is a ANNUAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. 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. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Oil  Oil  Shoots
Edible Uses: Condiment  Oil  Oil

Young leaves - raw or cooked[2, 5, 27, 34, 52, 183]. A hot cress-like flavour, it makes an excellent addition (in small quantities) to the salad bowl[K]. An analysis is available. Root is used as a condiment[46, 61]. A hot pungent flavour, but the root is rather small and woody[K]. The fresh or dried seedpods can be used as a pungent seasoning[183]. The seed can be sprouted in relatively low light until the shoots are a few centimetres long and then be used in salads[183]. They take about 7 days to be ready and have a pleasantly hot flavour. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[46, 61, 105].

References   More on Edible Uses

Composition
Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food.
Leaves (Fresh weight)
  • 0 Calories per 100g
  • Water : 82.3%
  • Protein: 5.8g; Fat: 1g; Carbohydrate: 8.7g; Fibre: 0g; Ash: 0g;
  • Minerals - Calcium: 0mg; Phosphorus: 0mg; Iron: 28.6mg; Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg; Potassium: 0mg; Zinc: 0mg;
  • Vitamins - A: 2970mg; Thiamine (B1): 0.11mg; Riboflavin (B2): 0.17mg; Niacin: 1mg; B6: 0mg; C: 87mg;
  • Reference: [ 240]
  • Notes:

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.
Antiasthmatic  Antiscorbutic  Aperient  Diuretic  Galactogogue  Poultice  Stimulant  Vitamin C


The leaves are antiscorbutic, diuretic and stimulant[46, 240]. The plant is administered in cases of asthma, cough with expectoration and bleeding piles[240]. The root is used in the treatment of secondary syphilis and tenesmus[240]. The seeds are galactogogue. They have been boiled with milk and used to procure an abortion, they have been applied as a poultice to pains and hurts and have also been used as an aperient[240]. Fresh foliage has 37% Ascorbic acid - vitamin C

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Oil  Oil

The seed yields up to 58% of an edible oil that can also be used for lighting[74].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils[52]. For the best results, however, it requires a moist soil and also some shade during the summer to prevent it running straight to seed[27, 37, 52]. Garden cress is often cultivated as a sprouted seed, there are some named varieties[183]. It is the cress of 'mustard and cress'. A very easy and fast crop, it can be ready within 7 days from sowing the seed[27]. It can also be grown outdoors as full grown plants and can provide fresh leaves for the salad bowl all year round from successional sowings. Plants can be overwintered outdoors to provide edible leaves all year round, though they will require some protection if temperatures fall below -5°c[200]. This plant is cultivated in Ethiopia for the edible oil from its seed[183].

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 - if you want a succession of young leaves then it is possible to sow the seed in situ every 3 weeks in succession from early spring to early autumn. Germination is very rapid, usually taking place in less than a week. When sowing seed for use in mustard and cress, the seed is soaked for about 12 hours in warm water and then placed in a humid position. Traditionally, it is sown in a tray on a thin layer of soil, or on some moist blotting paper, and the tray is placed in a warm dark place for a few days to encourage rapid and rather etiolated growth. The seedlings can then be placed in a lighter position for a couple more days to turn green before being eaten. The cress seed should be sown about 3 - 4 days before the mustard for them both to be ready at the same time[264].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey TROPICAL ASIA: Pakistan AFRICA: Egypt, Ethiopia

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 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 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.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

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Readers comment

Dilip Jhala   Tue Sep 8 2009

Please add Fatty Acid and Amino Acid compositon of the Fat and Protein of Lepidium sativum. Thanks. I am a Food Technologist of India.

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