Lepidium virginicum L.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Brassicaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Erect herb to 90 cm tall, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, branching in upper portion. Leaves alternate; blades 2.5-10 x 0.3-1.5 cm, oblanceolate, obovate, or spatulate, chartaceous, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, the apex acute or obtuse, the base tapering, the margins serrate or deeply incised in upper half; petioles not distinctive. Flowers in terminal racemes; sepals green, oblong, 0.7 mm long; petals white, 1-1.5 mm long, spatulate; stamens 2; nectary glands minute; ovary lenticular, the stigma sessile and capitate. Fruit straw-colored when dry, lenticular to circular, flattened, ca. 4 mm long, the valves falling away, leaving the replum. Seeds ellipsoid, light brown and pendulous.
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Distribution
A common weed of open areas, especially on sandy beaches. Bordeaux Road (A2891), along road to Herman Farm (A866). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Tortola; native to North America, introduced and naturalized elsewhere.
North America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|