Lepidium divaricatum
Family
Brassicaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Conservation status
Not applicable
Distribution
Exotic. Native to South Africa.
Habitat
In New Zealand the only known gathering (1908) was made from gravel along a railway track near Westport
Detailed description
Perennial herb up to 1 m high, much branched, base somewhat woody. Stems and branches puberulous. Branches spreading. Leaves glaborous adaxial midrib puberulous, petiolate, basal leaves 25-50(-150) mm, linear-oblanceolate to narrowly obovate, apex acute, base cuneate, margins ciliolate, serrulate to serrate, sometimes sparingly lobed 1-2X, lobes short lanceolate margins entire; upper leaves similar, serrulate, serrate or weakly lobed. Racemes elongate, lax or subdense in fruit; rhachis puberulous. Pedicels 2.0-3.0-5.2 mm long in fruit, arcuate-spreading or ascending, adaxially puberulent. Sepals 0.7-1.0 mm long, oblong, green tinged with purple, margins membranous margins. Petals 0.3-1.0 mm long, narrowly oblong, white. Stamens 2, median. Nectaries triangular, small. Silicules 2.3-3.7 X 1.8-2.3 mm oblong to oblong-ovate, deeply notched, style included in the sinus. Seeds 1.0-1.4 x 0.5-0.8 mm, light brown.
Flowering
November - January
Flower colours
Green, White
Fruiting
December - May
Where held
AK Herbarium (Auckland Museum)
Extant collections
Known only from one gathering made by W. Townson from Westport in 1908 (specimens held at AK)
Year naturalised
1908
Origin
South Africa
Etymology
lepidium: Scale-shaped (pods)
divaricatum: Wide spreading