Argentine peppercress
Lepidium bonariense

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb which either re-grows each year or can take 2 years to complete its life cycle. It grows 50 cm high. The stems are erect and branched. They are hairy. The leaves at the base have leaf stalks. These leaf blades are divided into 2 or 3 leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are 3-10 cm long and 1-4 cm wide. The lobes are narrow. The stem leaves become smaller up the stem. They do not have leaf stalks. The leaves are deeply divided or toothed. The flowers are dense. The petals are narrow and white. The fruit develop along the flowering stalk from the bottom up. Their stalks are 2-3 mm long. The dry pods are short and 2.5-3.5 mm long. The seeds are broadly oval and 1.5 mm long.

There are about 150 Lepidium species.

Where it is found

It grows on waste land. It grows in warm temperate places. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 3,300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, East Africa, Easter Island, Eswatini, Hawaii, Norfolk Island, Pacific, Paraguay, Southern Africa, South America, Swaziland, Tasmania, Uruguay, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are used in salads.

Edible parts

Leaves, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Lepidium bonariense var. pseudovirginicum Thell.; Lepidium mendocinum Phil.; Nasturtium bonariense (L.) Kuntze; Thlaspi bonariense (L.) Poir.; Thlaspi multifidum Poir.; Thlaspi pinnatifidum F. Phil.;