Mountain pepperweed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain pepperweed |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lepidium
|
| Species: |
montanum
|
Lepidium montanum is a type of flowering plant in the mustard family. It has several common names, including mountain pepperweed, mountain peppergrass, and mountain pepperplant. This plant grows naturally in western North America, from Oregon to Montana and down into northern Mexico. You can often find it in different places, especially in salty or gravelly soils. There are many different types, or varieties, of this plant, and some can be hard to tell apart.
What Does Mountain Pepperweed Look Like?
This plant is a small, bushy herb that usually lives for two years. It grows in a rounded shape, reaching about 40 centimeters (16 inches) tall and often spreading even wider.
The leaves near the bottom of the plant can be up to 15 centimeters (6 inches) long. They are often divided into several jagged sections. Leaves higher up on the stem are shorter and usually have smooth edges.
The plant produces many small flowers grouped together in round or tube-shaped clusters. Each tiny flower has white or cream-colored petals, which are about 2 millimeters long. They also have two to six stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. After flowering, the plant grows small, oval-shaped fruit pods, each only a few millimeters long.
Different Kinds of Mountain Pepperweed
There are several varieties of Lepidium montanum. A variety is a group of plants within a species that has slightly different features. Many of these varieties are found only in specific places.
Here are some of the varieties:
- var. alpinum - This type is called alpine pepperweed. It is only found in Utah.
- var. claronense - Also known as Casto Canyon pepperwort, this variety is also only found in Utah.
- var. coloradense - This variety is only found in Colorado.
- var. neeseae - Called Elizabeth's pepperweed, this type is another one found only in Utah.
- var. nevadense - Known as Pueblo Valley peppergrass, this variety grows naturally in Oregon and Nevada.
