Lepidium nitidum Nutt.
Tongue pepperweed
Family: Brassicaceae
Habit: Annual, erect to spreading, 1 to 4 dm; Stems slender, glabrous to moderately pubescent.
Distribution: Common on alkaline soils, flats and slopes below 3000 feet throughout California, to Washington and Baja California.
Seed unit: Free seed.
Seed: 2 to 3 mm. long, ovate-elliptic, pinkish brown, flat, with one edge thicker than the other. Seeds are found one per chamber in the dehiscent fruit.
Embryo: Foliar embryo, bent or folded, mucilaginous seed coat.
Purity instructions: Pure seed definition:
AOSA: PSU# 2 – Seed with at least a portion of the seed coat attached. Broken seed larger than one-half the original size with at least a portion of the seed coat attached.
ISTA: PSD #10 – Seed, with or without testa. Piece of seed larger than one-half the original size, with or without testa. Brassicaceae: seeds and pieces of seed without testa are regarded as inert matter.
Lab notes: Seeds are gelatinous when wetted. Samples often contain a high percentage of dormant seeds; viability of ungerminated seeds may be determined using TZ.
Average pure seed units per gram: 998 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 15 samples received for testing from 1992 to 2004).
Range of percent pure seed: 93 to 99%
Range of percent inert: 1 to 3%
Description of inert: Plant material, dirt, stone.
Planting instructions: 400 seeds, TB, 14 days @ 20°C; for fresh and dormant seed, GA3 recommended.
References: (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed. 1993. p. 429.
Munz, P.A. and D.D. Keck. 1968. p. 228.
Martin, A.C. and W.D. Barkley. 1961. p. 162.
Ransom Seed Laboratory
