Lepidium draba
L. Hoary CressPlant 15–90 cm high, procumbent to erect, densely covered in simple hairs; roots producing adventitious buds. Basal leaves petiolate, obovate to elliptic, to 10 cm long, margins scalloped, toothed or entire; stem leaves sessile, obovate to ovate-oblong, sessile, base stem-clasping, margins broadly toothed. Sepals c. 2 mm long; petals 3–4 mm long, white, stamens 6. Fruit cordate, 3–5 mm long, 3.5–5 mm wide, inflated, apex obtuse to rounded, separating into 1- or 2-seeded portions; style 1–2 mm long; pedicels 4–15 mm long. Flowers mostly spring.
MuM, Wim, VVP, VRiv, MSB, MuF, GipP, OtP, Gold, CVU, GGr, NIS, HSF, HNF, Strz. Also naturalised WA, SA, Qld, NSW, ACT, Tas. A common weed of crops and a declared noxious weed in most States. Its distribution in Victoria is wider than herbarium records indicate (see Parsons & Cuthbertson 1992).
Characterised by the heart-shaped fruits and simple leaves.
Entwisle, T.J. (1996). Brassicaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 399–459. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
