Lepidium heterophyllum

Description

epidium heterophyllum is similar in form to native Lepidium campestre and especially at the early seedling stage, both have been misidentified in Belgium It is a perennial, which can grow between 10–90 cm (3.9–35.4 in) tall. The hirsute (or hairy) stems, are often branched from the base,It has grey-green foliage, that has narrowly triangular,variably toothed stem leaves which cling to the stem with long pointed auricles. The stem leaves can grow up to 50 mm long.The basal leaves are different, they have long stalks and are strap-shape or oblong-elliptic. They can often have 1-3 pairs of small but broad sided lobes, they quickly fade at blooming time but can re-grow as the plant goes to seed. It blooms between May and August, or between May and September, in the UK, and between May and July in the US. The very small flowers (2–3.6 mm (0.079–0.142 in) long,) are on short stalks at right angles to the stem, the plant can have several crowded, parallel-sided flower spikes. The white spatulate (spoon-shaped) petals, are as long as the oblong sepals.[ and 6 styles, which have a notch.The flower also has stamens with violet anthers. After it has flowered, it produces a fruit capsule, which is oval and smooth, with a distinctive beak at the top. They are (4.5–8.6 mm (0.18–0.34 in) long, and inside are ovoid dark brown seeds.