4t 



Fig. 13. 



Pepper Grass, or Tongue Grass. 



Lepidium Virginicum (L). 



A native annual which grows from six inches to a foot and a half 

 high. The stem usually has many branches, and the lower leaves ter- 

 minate in a large lobe (with small lateral ones), with edges slightly 

 cut in along the margin. The upper leaves are tapering. The flow- 

 ers are small and white, with slender spreading flower stalks. The 

 seed pods are round, with a very small wing at the top and a notch 

 at the extremity. The end of a branch with seed pods is shown nearly 

 natural size in Fig. 13, a. 



The seeds (Fig. 13, b) are reddish brown, flat and oval in shape, 

 and" 1-16 in. long. The average plant produces about 18,000 seeds. 



Time of flowering, June- August. 



Time of seeding, July-September. 



Dispersal — by birds and as an impurity in clover seed. 



Eradication. Be careful to prevent the plants from seeding, and 

 do not plow them under when half ripe, ss many of the seeds will 

 germinate even though partially matured. Pull and burn where only 

 a few plants exist, and when they are numerous use the method em- 

 ployed for the eradication of Mustard (Fig. 15). 



