Scientific Name: Lepidium desvauxii

Common Name: bushy peppercress

Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots

Family: Brassicaceae

Form Description: Annual or short-lived perennial herb with stems sparsely hairy, almost glabrous.

Flowers: Minute, petals sometimes present, stamens 2, sepals elliptical.

Fruit: Capsule (silicula) with apex very shortly notched. Seeds orange-brown and densely blistered.

Municipality
Break O’DayBurnieCentral CoastClarenceDerwent ValleyFlindersGlamorgan-Spring BayHobartHuon ValleyKing IslandKingboroughLauncestonSorellSouthern MidlandsWaratah-Wynyard
Plant Communities
Coastal Vegetation
Habitat Notes

Widespread, often a roadside weed, locally abundant near coasts.

Site Tolerance

Dry, Exposed, Moist, Windy

Soil Tolerance

Fertile, Loam, Nutrient-poor, Sandy, Well-drained

General Notes

Needs freely draining soil and sunshine. Some species of Lepidium were steamed on hot stones by Aboriginal people on the mainland and eaten as a green vegetable but research is lacking in this use or use as a herb or seasoning.

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Grown from seed which has moderate to good results.

Seed Treatment Method

Standard Scatter seed thinly on to damp potting mix. Hold seed in place by covering with more potting mix to approximately the depth of the seed size.

Germination Time

2-4 weeks