Lepidium phlebopetalum
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
| Veined peppercress | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Lepidium |
| Species: | L. phlebopetalum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lepidium phlebopetalum F. Muell, 1960 (L.) phlebopetalum – plant
| |
Lepidium phlebopetalum, commonly known as veined peppercress, is a plant of the Brassicaceae family that is endemic to parts of Australia.
Description
The annual or perennial herbaceous plants are 10–30 cm (3.9–11.8 in) tall or have a sprawling habit. The leaves are leathery to succulent, lanceolate to linear, obtuse, up to 5 cm (2.0 in) long, 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) wide, and alternating up the stems. Sometimes leaves are absent in dry conditions.[1]
The flowers (inflorescences) contain four petals that are white with purple veins and four sepals that are slightly shorter, in racemes which lengthen as the fruiting bodies mature.[2]
The fruit the plant produces is dehiscent; it is non-fleshy. The plant has scale-like seed pods.[3]
Etymology
The Genus name of the plant is Lepidium. This name is derived from the Greek word lepidion, meaning 'a little scale', in reference to the scale-shaped seed pods.[4][5]
The species name of the plant is phlebopetalum, which is derived from the Greek work phléps, meaning "vein" (phlebo), in reference to the purple veined petals (petalum).[6]
Habitat and range
Often located in arid and semi-arid regions, in relatively bare sites with crusting red clay loam soils. Found mainly in WA, NT, SA, Qld and NSW. Endangered in Victoria, with recorded sightings in the far north-west existing, but it is uncertain if the species is still persisting there. It becomes abundant after rain and the flowers are present most of the year depending on the region, with an influx of blooming in spring.[7]
History
Lepidium phlebopetalum was first described by German-Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller.[8]
There are 150 species of Lepidium globally. In Australia there are 43 species, 35 of which are endemic and 8 species have become naturalised. Lepidium species are found in all Australian states.[9]
References
- ^ "Factsheet – Lepidium phlebopetalum". keys.lucidcentral.org. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "PlantNET – FloraOnline". plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "VicFlora: Lepidium phlebopetalum". vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ Western Australian Herbarium, Biodiversity and Conservation Science. "Florabase—the Western Australian Flora". florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "Lepidium sativum, Persian Cress or Ornamental Cress Seeds". www.seedaholic.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ Western Australian Herbarium, Biodiversity and Conservation Science. "Florabase—the Western Australian Flora". florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ Mueller, Ferdinand von; Mueller, Ferdinand von (1860). Plants indigenous to the colony of Victoria. Vol. 1 : Thalamiflorae. Melbourne: Government Printer.
- ^ "PlantNET – FloraOnline". plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-06-19.