HerbWildAnnual

Lepidium draba L.

White top

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Description

Lepidium draba is a perennial herb, usually 20–70 cm tall, spreading by creeping roots. Stems are erect and branched above. Leaves are grey-green, oblong to lanceolate; lower leaves are petiolate while upper leaves clasp the stem. Flowers are small, white, four-petaled, and densely arranged in terminal corymbs. Fruits are inflated, heart-shaped silicles containing one or two seeds.

Diagnostic Characters

Vegetative

Perennial with creeping roots and stem-clasping grey-green leaves.

Floral

Dense clusters of small white flowers.

Fruit & Seed

Inflated heart-shaped silicles.

Distribution

Native range: Europe and western Asia.

In Pakistan: Common in northern and central Pakistan.

Phenology

Flowering

Fruiting

Flowering: March–May Fruiting: April–June

Ethnobotany & Uses

Uses

Occasionally grazed by livestock. Traditionally used for respiratory ailments. Considered a troublesome perennial weed.

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Where it grows on campus

This species is on the campus floristic list but was not pinned during the GPS mapping survey, so it has no map records yet.

Taxonomic Notes

Although long known as Lepidium draba, current taxonomic treatments, including POWO and WFO, recognize the accepted name as Lepidium draba. It is easily identified by its dense white flower clusters and inflated silicles.