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Lepidium coronopus

Description 11

Lepidium coronopus is a robust herb, grown as an annual, and rarely as a biennial. It is a low, to short prostrate plant, with often several from base, stems that sprawl, trail or spread, and very rarely ascending. It can reach between 5–12 cm (2.0 in – 4.7 in) tall, with the more or less hairless, and branched distally, stems reaching 5–30 cm (2.0 in – 11.8 in) long.

It has two types of leaves, basal and cauline (along the stem), the basal leaves are rosulate (form a rosette), with a petiole (leaf stalk) 2–5 cm (0.79 in – 1.97 in) long. They are pinnatisect (having lobes with incisions that extend almost, or up to midrib), the lobes are dark green and strap like. The cauline leaves are shortly petiolate, or stalkless, they are also pinnatisect, or more or less unlobed. The leaves are dull blue-green, or greyish green.

Although Swine Cress (Lepidium coronopus) is very similar in form to Lesser Swine Cress (Lepidium didymum) but the leaves of Lesser Swine cress are edible. Other differences between the two plants include; l. didymum has 2 stamens while L. coronopus has 6 and the fruits are very different.

Lepidium coronopus begins blooming between May and August, or between June and September.
The small flowers, are about 0.2–0.4 cm (0.079 in – 0.157 in) wide. They are white, or purplish, growing in clusters opposite a leaf, on short racemes. The rachis is glabrous (hairy). The flowers have 4 petals which are obovate to oblong shaped, that are longer than the sepals, which are oblong shaped.
It has 6 stamens, small anthers.

After flowering, it produces fruits (or seed capsules). They are small 0.3–0.47 cm (0.12 in – 0.19 in) across, reniform (kidney shaped), to ovate-cordate shaped. They have a wart-like surface, and irregularly wrinkled, or has pointed bumps.
The fruit only contains 1 or 2 seeds, the dirty yellowish, seeds are small, 1.1-1.5 by 1.3-1.7 mm, elliptic and flattish, and pear-shaped, or ovate-oblong. They are curved but not winged.

Distribution and habitat 11

Lepidium coronopus is native to temperate areas of Africa, western Asia and Europe.

It is found in Africa, within Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. It is also found in western Asia, within Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Caucasus, Dagestan (in Russia), Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. In middle Europe, it is found within Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland and Ukraine. In northern Europe, within Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In southern England, around the coasts of Wales and on the southern coasts in Ireland, it is common. In south-eastern Europe, within Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia. In southwestern Europe within France, Portugal and Spain.

It has also widely naturalised in other places, such as Norway in Europe. In Africa, within the Azores, the Madeira Islands, the Canary Islands and South Africa. In Australia, within the state of South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and in New Zealand. In America, has widely naturalised in North America, from the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec in Canada. Also in the American states of Missouri, New Jersey, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee and California. Lastly in South America, within Chile.

It is found growing in waste grounds, pathways, arable fields, abandoned fields, pastures, disturbed sites and along roadsides.
It also likes well trodden places, or compacted soils, such as field gateways, or field entrances.

Range 11

It is found in Africa, within Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. It is also found in western Asia, within Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Caucasus, Dagestan (in Russia), Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. In middle Europe, it is found within Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland and Ukraine. In northern Europe, within Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In southern England, around the coasts of Wales and on the southern coasts in Ireland, it is common. In south-eastern Europe, within Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia. In southwestern Europe within France, Portugal and Spain.

It has also widely naturalised in other places, such as Norway in Europe. In Africa, within the Azores, the Madeira Islands, the Canary Islands and South Africa. In Australia, within the state of South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and in New Zealand. In America, has widely naturalised in North America, from the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec in Canada. Also in the American states of Missouri, New Jersey, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee and California. Lastly in South America, within Chile.

Summary 11

Lepidium coronopus, (swine cress, creeping wart cress, or greater swine cress), is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family which is native to parts of Africa, western Asia and Europe, growing in shingle banks, wasteland or cultivated fields.

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) --Tico--, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/tico_bassie/186716842/
  2. (c) Colin Meurk, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Colin Meurk
  3. no rights reserved, uploaded by Peter de Lange
  4. (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coronopus_squamatus2_eF.jpg
  5. (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coronopus_squamatus3_eF.jpg
  6. (c) Julia Kruse, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coronopus_squamatus_inflorescens_(02).jpg
  7. (c) Gerhard Nitter, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coronopus_squamatus_inflorescens_(04).jpg
  8. (c) Gerhard Nitter, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coronopus_squamatus_inflorescens_(05).jpg
  9. (c) Gerhard Nitter, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coronopus_squamatus_inflorescens_(06).jpg
  10. (c) Jacques MARÉCHAL, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coronopus_squamatus_inflorescens_(19).jpg
  11. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidium_coronopus

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