Lepidium africanum (Burm.f.) DC.

Perennial. Stems erect, branching above, finely and closely grooved, glabrous or densely puberulent, (10)–15–50–(90) cm tall. Lvs all simple, hairy beneath or glabrous. Basal and lower stem lvs withering at fruiting, simple, toothed, lanceolate to oblanceolate, acute, (2)–3–10 × 1–2 cm, cuneately narrowed into a slender petiole. Upper lvs becoming linear or narrow-lanceolate, sessile, entire or toothed at apex or 3-fid, (5)–10–20–(30) × 1–3 mm. Racemes 5–10–(15) cm long at fruiting; rachis sparingly hairy or glabrous, ridged; pedicels erecto-patent, curved, 2–3 mm long at fruiting, with a single row of hairs. Sepals glabrous or sparsely hairy, purplish or green, 0.6–1 × 0.5 mm. Petals 0 or up to 1/2 length of sepals, white. Stamens 2. Silicle elliptic, 2–3 × 1.8–2.2 mm; stigma almost sessile, < or = the very shallow notch; valves purple or green, glabrous. Seed narrow-ovoid, brown, not winged, 1.2–1.5 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: (Jul.)–Oct.–Jun.; Fruiting: (Jul.)–Oct.–Jun.