Smith’s pepperwort (Lepidium heterophyllum, Cat. Pl. Pyrénées: 95 (1826))

Family: Brassicaceae

Author: Benth.

Bibliography: Cat. Pl. Pyrénées: 95 (1826)

Year: 1826

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Lepidium

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: W. Europe

Description

Smith’s pepperwort, scientifically known as Lepidium heterophyllum, is a species that belongs to the Brassicaceae family. This plant, first cataloged in 1826, holds historical significance as it was noted in the comprehensive botanical work “Cat. Pl. Pyrénées” by the renowned botanist Benth.

Native to Western Europe, Smith’s pepperwort thrives in various habitats across the region. It is frequently found in open fields, grasslands, and along roadsides, adapting well to a range of environmental conditions.

The Brassicaceae family, to which Smith’s pepperwort belongs, is known for its economic and ecological importance. Many plants in this family, including Lepidium heterophyllum, possess characteristics favorable to both culinary and medicinal uses, although the specific uses of Smith’s pepperwort may still be the subject of ongoing research.

Botanically, Smith’s pepperwort is distinguished by its diverse leaf shapes, a trait alluded to in its scientific name, “heterophyllum,” which means “different leaves.” These variations in leaf morphology can be an identifying feature when observing the plant in its natural habitat.

While common throughout its native range, Smith’s pepperwort’s exact distribution and population health continue to be monitored, ensuring that this species remains a familiar and well-documented part of Western Europe’s flora.

Common Names

Dan: banks-fyr, blå-gran, forskelligbladet karse, orientalsk gran, serbisk gran
Swe: banksianatall, blågran, orientgran, serbgran, nurmikrassi, vallkrassing, vallkrasse
Fra: passerage à feuilles variables, lépidie à feuilles variables
Eng: purpleanther field pepperweed, smith’s pepperwort, purple-anthered field pepperweed, downy pepperwort, smith’s cress, smith’s peppergrass
Deu: verschiedenblättrige kresse
Fin: nurmikrassi
Nld: rozetkruidkers
Nno: vollkarse
Nob: vollkarse
Ces: řeřicha různolistá
Cym: pupurlys, pupurlys amryddail, pybyrllys, pybyrlys cyffredin, pypyrllys manbluaidd
En: Smith’s pepperwort, Purpleanther field pepperweed, Purple-anthered field pepperweed, Downy Pepperwort, Smith’s Cress, Smith’s peppergrass
Cs: Řeřicha různolistá
Da: Banks-fyr, Blå-gran, Forskelligbladet karse, Orientalsk gran, Serbisk gran
Nl: Rozetkruidkers
Fi: Nurmikrassi
Fr: Passerage à feuilles variables, Lépidie à feuilles variables, Passerage hétérophylle
De: Verschiedenblättrige Kresse
Nb: Vollkarse
Nn: Vollkarse
Sv: Vallkrassing, Banksianatall, Blågran, Orientgran, Serbgran, Nurmikrassi, Vallkrasse
Cy: Pupurlys amryddail, Pupurlys, Pybyrllys, Pybyrlys Cyffredin, Pypyrllys Manbluaidd

Synonyms

• Lepidium heterophyllum var. glabrum (Merino)
• Lepidium heterophyllum f. longistyla ((Pau) Rivas Goday & Bellot)
• Lepidium heterophyllum var. pyrenaicum (Gren. & Godr.)
• Lepidium campestre subsp. heterophyllum ((Benth.) Bonnier & Layens)
• Lepidium heterophyllum var. contractum (Merino)

Distribution

• Algeria (native)
• France (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Spain (native)
• Belgium (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Corse (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• Finland (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Netherlands (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken May 23, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 16, 2020 by Jeanine Vialatte (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 12, 2007 by Martin Bishop (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 29, 2021 by Fabrice Bourriquet (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 25, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Genevieve BOTTI (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken May 27, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 5, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Dominique REMAUD (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 16, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Mathieu MENAND (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 27, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 19, 2019 by Valoria Valoria (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken May 27, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 16, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Mathieu MENAND (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 29, 2021 by Fabrice Bourriquet (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 25, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Genevieve BOTTI (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken May 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Yann QUELEN (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2012 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Apr 30, 1863 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken May 24, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Apr 20, 2019 by Meiga Entropía (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken May 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

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

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5376846)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:286210-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Lepidium heterophyllum Benth.)

Specifications

Growth