About Lepidium montanum Nutt.
Scientific Name and Growth Form
This plant, scientifically known as Lepidium montanum Nutt., is a short, spreading, shrub-like biennial herb that grows into a rounded form reaching up to approximately 40 centimeters tall, and is wider than it is tall.
Basal Leaf Characteristics
Leaves located near the base of the plant grow up to 15 centimeters long and are divided into several toothed lobes.
Upper Stem Leaf Characteristics
Leaves positioned higher up the stem are shorter and often undivided.
Inflorescence Structure
The plant produces abundant flowers arranged in rounded to cylindrical inflorescences that are a few centimeters wide.
Flower Morphology
Each small flower has white to cream-colored petals around 2 millimeters long, and between two and six stamens.
Fruit Characteristics
The fruit of Lepidium montanum Nutt. is an oval-shaped capsule that measures a few millimeters long.
