36 



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 flowers 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 extre- 

 mity. 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 

 about 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, as 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 employed for the 

 eradication of Mustard (Fig. 15). 



