112 



CRUCIFERAE. 



[VOL. II. 



4. Lepidium Virginicum L. Wild 

 Peppergrass. (Fig. 1687. 



Lepidium Virginicum I,. Sp. PI. 645. 1753. 



Similar to L. niderale, often taller. Basal 

 leaves obovate or spatulate in outline, less pin- 

 natifid, generally with a large terminal lobe and 

 numerous small lateral ones, all dentate, gla- 

 brous or slightly pubescent; stem-leaves lanceo- 

 late or oblong-linear, sharply dentate or entire, 

 sessile, or the lower stalked; flowers ^"-i" 

 broad, white; petals generally present, some- 

 times wanting in the later flowers; pedicels 

 very slender, spreading, z // -3 // long in fruit; 

 pod flat, short-oval or orbicular, minutely 

 winged above; cotyledons accumbent. 



In fields and along roadsides, Quebec to Minne- 

 sota, south to Florida, Texas and Mexico. Also in 

 the West Indies, and introduced as a weed into 

 southern Europe. May-Nov. 



5. Lepidium apetalum Willd. 

 Apetalous Pepper-grass. (Fig. 1688.) 



Lepidium apetalum Willd. Sp. PI. 3: 439. 1801. 

 Lepidium intermedium A. Gray, Man. Ed. 2. 



1856. Not A. Rich. 1847. 



Much like L. ruderale and L. Virginicum. 

 Basal leaves pinnatifid. Pods nearly orbicu- 

 lar, sometimes broader than long, slightly 

 wing-margined above, about \" in diameter; 

 flowering pedicels ascending, forming nar- 

 row racemes, or in fruit spreading; petals 

 minute or wanting; cotyledons incumbent. 



In dry soil, Maine and Ontario to California, 

 south to Texas. Apparently naturalized from 

 Europe. May- Aug. 



Lepidium medium Greene (L. intermedium A. 

 'Gray, PI. Wright. 1848. Not A. Rich. ), with 

 rather large white petals, orbicular pods r " 

 broad, and incumbent cotyledons, is found by 

 Mr. Bicknell near New York city. 



6. Lepidium sativum L. Garden, 

 Town, or Golden Pepper-grass 

 or Cress. (Fig. 1689.) 



Lepidium sativum I,. Sp. PI. 644. 1753. 



Glabrous, bright green, stem slender, usu- 

 ally much branched, about i high. Lower 

 leaves 2-pinnate, or pinnate with the segments 

 lobed or pinnatifid, 3 / -7 / long, the lobes en- 

 tire or incised; upper leaves sessile or nearly 

 so, entire or incised, much smaller; flowers in 

 loose elongated racemes, about i // broad; 

 petals present; silicles oval, about 2" high 

 and V wide, equalling or longer than their 

 pedicels, cmarginate, winged all around; style 

 very short. 



In waste places, Quebec to New York and Brit- 

 ish Columbia. Escaped from gardens. Native 

 of Europe. Much cultivated for its pungent 

 foliage. Petals often pinkish. May-Aug. 



