Prairie peppergrass (Lepidium densiflorum, Index Seminum (GOET, Gottingensis) 1832: 4 (1832))

Family: Brassicaceae

Author: Schrad.

Bibliography: Index Seminum (GOET, Gottingensis) 1832: 4 (1832)

Year: 1832

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Lepidium

Vegetable: False

Observations: Subarctic America to N. Mexico

Description

The Prairie peppergrass, scientifically known as Lepidium densiflorum, is a fascinating species within the family Brassicaceae. This plant can be found thriving across a vast range that extends from subarctic regions of America all the way down to Northern Mexico, showcasing its remarkable adaptability to different climates and terrains.

Initially described by the botanist Schrad. in 1832, as documented in the Index Seminum (GOET, Gottingensis), Prairie peppergrass is noted for its dense flowering habit, as suggested by its scientific name. This characteristic is particularly prominent during its blooming period, where tiny, white flowers cluster tightly together, creating a visually appealing display that not only attracts human observers but also a variety of pollinators.

In terms of habitat, Lepidium densiflorum typically favors open spaces and can often be found in prairies, meadows, roadsides, and even disturbed sites where its resilient nature allows it to establish quickly. Its presence from the coldest parts of subarctic America to the warmer regions of Northern Mexico is a testament to its flexibility and hardiness.

The plant has adapted well to different environments by developing deep root systems that aid in water absorption and help it withstand drought conditions. This ecological advantage also makes it a pioneer species in restoration ecology, helping to stabilize soil and prevent erosion in disturbed areas.

Prairie peppergrass holds ecological significance as it provides food for various insects, including beneficial pollinators like bees. Additionally, it plays a role in the diet of certain herbivorous animals. Its seeds, which follow the flowering phase, are also an important food source for birds, contributing to the broader ecological food web.

Despite its somewhat modest appearance, Lepidium densiflorum is a robust and essential component of the ecosystems it inhabits, contributing significantly to biodiversity and the stability of various habitats across its extensive range.

Common Names

Dan: alpe bjerg-fyr, engelsmann-gran, gul fyr, hybrid-lærk, silke-fyr, sort-gran, tætblomstret karse
Swe: alptall, altaigran, engelsmannsgran, gultall, hybridlärk, makedonisk tall, svartgran, svarttall, vanlig vitgran, bankrassing, ratakrassi, bankrasse
Eng: common pepperweed, densely-flowered pepperwort, greenflower pepperweed, miner’s pepperwort, miners’ pepperweed, peppergrass, prairie peppergrass, prairie pepperweed, prairie pepperwort, common peppergrass, common pepperwort, dense-flowered peppergrass, small-flowered peppergrass
Nld: dichtbloemige kruidkers, vergeten kruidkers
Deu: dichtbluetige kresse, dichtblütige kresse, verkannte kresse
Ita: lepidio densifloro
Pol: pieprzyca gęstokwiatowa
Lit: tankiažiedė pipirnė
Lav: blīvziedu cietķērsa, blīvķekara cietķērsa
Hun: kisvirágú zsázsa
Fra: passerage densiflore, lépidie densiflore, passerage, passerage à fleurs denses
Est: randkress
Fin: ratakrassi
Nob: tettkarse
Nno: tettkarse
Ces: řeřicha hustokvětá, žerucha hustkvetá
Sme: šilljokrássa
En: Prairie peppergrass, Prairie pepperweed, Prairie pepperwort, Tall pepperweed, Miner’s pepperwort, Common pepperweed, Densely-flowered pepperwort, Greenflower pepperweed, Miners’ pepperweed, Peppergrass, Common peppergrass, Common pepperwort, Dense-flowered peppergrass, Small-flowered peppergrass
Cs: Řeřicha hustokvětá, Žerucha hustkvetá
Da: Alpe bjerg-fyr, Engelsmann-gran, Gul fyr, Hybrid-lærk, Silke-fyr, Sort-gran, Tætblomstret karse
Nl: Dichtbloemige kruidkers, Vergeten kruidkers
Et: Randkress
Fi: Ratakrassi
Fr: Passerage densiflore, Lépidie densiflore, Passerage, Passerage à fleurs denses, Passerage à fleurs serrées
De: Dichtbluetige Kresse, Dichtblütige Kresse, Verkannte Kresse
Hu: Kisvirágú zsázsa
It: Lepidio densifloro
Lv: Blīvziedu cietķērsa, Blīvķekara cietķērsa
Lt: Tankiažiedė pipirnė
Se: Šilljokrássa
Nb: Tettkarse
Nn: Tettkarse
Pl: Pieprzyca gęstokwiatowa
Sv: Alptall, Altaigran, Engelsmannsgran, Gultall, Hybridlärk, Makedonisk tall, Svartgran, Svarttall, Vanlig vitgran, Bankrassing, Ratakrassi, Bankrasse

Synonyms

• Lepidium densiflorum var. pubicarpum ((A.Nelson) Thell.)
• Lepidium densiflorum var. typicum (Thell.)
• Lepidium elongatum (Rydb.)
• Lepidium ramosum (A.Nelson)
• Lepidium neglectum (Thell.)
• Lepidium densiflorum var. macrocarpum (G.A.Mulligan)
• Lepidium densiflorum var. elongatum ((Rydb.) Thell.)
• Lepidium pubicarpum (A.Nelson)
• Lepidium densiflorum subsp. neglectum ((Thell.) P.Fourn.)
• Lepidium densiflorum var. retrohispidum (Thell.)
• Lepidium densiflorum var. ramosum ((A.Nelson) Thell.)
• Lepidium densiflorum var. pubicaule (Thell.)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Alaska (native)
• Alberta (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• British Columbia (native)
• California (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Delaware (native)
• District of Columbia (native)
• Florida (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Idaho (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Kansas (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Labrador (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Montana (native)
• Nebraska (native)
• Nevada (native)
• New Brunswick (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New York (native)
• Newfoundland (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Dakota (native)
• Northwest Territorie (native)
• Nova Scotia (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Prince Edward I. (native)
• Québec (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• Saskatchewan (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• South Dakota (native)
• Texas (native)
• Utah (native)
• Virginia (native)
• Washington (native)
• West Virginia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Yukon (native)
• Altay (introduced)
• Amur (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Baltic States (introduced)
• Belarus (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Buryatiya (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• Chita (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• East European Russia (introduced)
• Finland (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Hungary (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Inner Mongolia (introduced)
• Irkutsk (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Kamchatka (introduced)
• Kazakhstan (introduced)
• Khabarovsk (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Krasnoyarsk (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• Magadan (introduced)
• Manchuria (introduced)
• Mongolia (introduced)
• North Caucasus (introduced)
• North European Russi (introduced)
• Northwest European R (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Sakhalin (introduced)
• Sicilia (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Switzerland (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Tuva (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• West Siberia (introduced)
• Yakutskiya (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken Nov 12, 2013 by EOL − Ben VanderWeide (cc-by-nc)

Taken Nov 21, 2015 by EOL − Jean-François Roch (cc-by-nc)

Taken Oct 17, 2012 by EOL − Michael Wunderli (cc-by)

Taken Jun 23, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 6, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Fruit

Taken May 22, 2022 by Hill Paige (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 6, 2019 by JaneS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 23, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 21, 2015 by EOL − Jean-François Roch (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jul 6, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken May 22, 2022 by Hill Paige (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 6, 2022 by julia spiegel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 18, 2020 by Stephanie Johnmark (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 11, 2020 by Xanthe Dick (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 27, 2021 by Crystal Osborn (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken May 28, 2018 by John Short (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 22, 2022 by Hill Paige (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 15, 2020 by Jackson Campbell (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 12, 2019 by brian (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 11, 2020 by Xanthe Dick (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5377064)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:286137-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Lepidium densiflorum Schrad.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 9

Atmospheric humidity: 4

Soil nutriments: 6