Yellow pepperweed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow pepperweed |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lepidium
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| Species: |
flavum
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Lepidium flavum is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the mustard family. People often call it yellow pepperweed. This plant naturally grows in California, Nevada, and Baja California. You can find it in the Sonoran and Mojave Desert areas.
The name flavum comes from Latin. It means "yellow." This tells us about the plant's flower color.
What Does Yellow Pepperweed Look Like?
Yellow pepperweed is a small plant. It usually grows low to the ground. Sometimes, its branching stems can reach about 40 centimeters (16 inches) tall. This plant is an annual herb. This means it lives for only one growing season.
Leaves and Stems
The leaves of Lepidium flavum are thick and fleshy. They often have lobes or small teeth. The longest leaves grow close to the ground. They form a circle called a basal rosette. Other leaves grow along the stem.
Flowers and Fruit
This plant produces many small yellow flowers. They grow in groups called inflorescences. Each flower has tiny petals, only a few millimeters long. In the middle of each flower, there are six stamens. These are the parts that make pollen.
After the flowers bloom, the plant makes fruit. The fruit is a flat, round capsule. It has small "wings" on the sides. Inside this capsule are tiny seeds.
