Pepperwort
Lepidium schinzii
Family: Brassicaceae
What it is like
An erect herb. It grows 15-45 cm tall. It grows each year from seed. The branches extend upwards. The stems and branches are densely covered with small cup shaped nipple like structures. The leaves at the base are large and in a ring. They have deep lobes. The leaves on the stems are smaller and can have teeth along the edge. The flowers are in dense clusters at the top of the plant. These are 3-15 cm long. The flowers are small and green with a purple tinge. The fruit is a broad oval capsule. The seeds are small and light brown.
Where it is found
It is a subtropical plant.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Lesotho, South Africa, Southern Africa
How it is used for food
The leaves are used to give flavour to other foods. The leaves are also dried for later use.
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Lerotho, Sebista, Sebitsa, Sebitsana, Umatholisa