Status: Native
Synonyms:
Dozens...see FNA for details
Lepidium montanum is an herbaceous annual (but according to FNA can be biennial or perennial) from a taproot. It usually has a single stem at the base and is branched distally. The stem leaves are usually pinnatifid. The stems are pubescent but not densely covered with mostly straight to somewhat curved hairs. The racemes of small, white, 4-petaled flowers are mostly terminal. The flowers have 6 stamens. The fruit is a nearly round 2-celled silicle. L. montanum is quite a heterogenous taxon in a genus that is difficult. It can be found in a number of habitats, probably most commonly in our area in sandy, scrubby areas.
Note: L. thurberi as collected and identified in our area is virtually identical to our L. montanum, and indeed both
species are intermingled in folders in the Dale A. Zimmerman herbarium. It may be that both species here are the same taxon, but with L. montanum phylogeny being so complicated, I leave them both on gilaflora until more sense can be made of the distinction.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Lepidium montanum, photo Russ Kleinman and the WNMU 2023 Plant Taxonomy Class, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Road, September 27, 2023
Lepidium montanum, typical growth form, photo Russ Kleinman and the WNMU 2023 Plant Taxonomy Class, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Road, September 27, 2023
Lepidium montanum, closeup of racemes, photo Russ Kleinman and the WNMU 2023 Plant Taxonomy Class, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Road, September 27, 2023
Lepidium montanum, plant in lab with annual root, photo Russ Kleinman and the WNMU 2023 Plant Taxonomy Class, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Road, September 27, 2023
Lepidium montanum, foliage, photo Russ Kleinman and the WNMU 2023 Plant Taxonomy Class, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Road, September 27, 2023
Lepidium montanum, pubescence, photo Russ Kleinman and the WNMU 2023 Plant Taxonomy Class, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Road, September 27, 2023
Lepidium montanum, flowers with 6 stamens, photo Russ Kleinman and the WNMU 2023 Plant Taxonomy Class, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Road, September 27, 2023
Lepidium montanum, closeup of flower, photo Russ Kleinman and the WNMU 2023 Plant Taxonomy Class, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Road, September 27, 2023
Lepidium montanum, silicle (fruit), photo Russ Kleinman and the WNMU 2023 Plant Taxonomy Class, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Road, September 27, 2023
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