Lepidium virginicum L.

Annual. Stem erect, shortly hairy, sometimes glabrous below, branched above, 15–40–(100) cm tall. Basal lvs pinnatifid or pinnate with oblanceolate toothed lobes, densely hairy, 5–10 × 1–3 cm. Stem lvs simple; middle lvs oblanceolate, coarsely toothed; uppermost lvs linear, becoming entire, 15–60–(80) × 2–10–(20) mm, with sparse hairs on midrib and margins. Racemes 5–10 cm long; rachis minutely hairy; pedicel minutely hairy, spreading, 3–4–(5) mm long at fruiting. Sepals glabrous, 0.5–1 × c. 0.5 mm. Petals white, obovate-spathulate, > sepals. Stamens 2–4. Silicle circular, 2.5–3 × 2.8–3.2 mm; style free from the narrow wing, not protuding beyond the short apical notch; valves glabrous. Seeds brown, ovoid, winged, c. 1.5 mm long.

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

Flowering: (Sep.)–Nov.–Feb.–(Apr.); Fruiting: (Sep.)–Nov.–Feb.–(Apr.)