Eastern slender Peppercress, Shrubby peppercress
Lepidium leptopetalum

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family plant. It is a small shrub. It grows 30-80 cm high and spreads 30-100 cm wide. Young growth is hairy. The branches are spreading. The leaves are 5 cm long by 0.2 cm wide. They are clustered. They are green and succulent. The flowering stalks are short and at the ends of branches. The flowers are 1.8 cm across. They are white or yellow. They have 4 petals. The fruit is dry and long with 2 sections. They are 0.9 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. They have wings.

There are about 150 Lepidium species.

Where it is found

It usually grows on limestone soils. It grows in inland Australia in semi-arid and warm temperate climates.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Tasmania

How it is used for food

The plant can be eaten raw or cooked.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Monoploca leptopetala F. Muell.; Nasturtium leptopetalum (F. Muell.) Kuntze;