Biology:Lepidium didymum
| Lesser swine-cress | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Lepidium |
| Species: | L. didymum
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| Binomial name | |
| Lepidium didymum | |
| Synonyms | |
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Coronopus didymus[2] | |
Lepidium didymum, the lesser swine-cress,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae.
Description
Lepidium didymum is an annual or biennial herb[4] with decumbent or ascending and glabrous green stems, up to 40 centimetres (16 in) long, radiating from a central position. The leaves are pinnate and alternate and can reach a length of 5 cm (2 in). It blooms between July and September. The flowers are inconspicuous, the four white petals very short or absent, with 2 (rarely 4),[5]:54 stamens and the fruits consist of two rounded valves, notched at the apex, with a very short style between.[6]:405[7] They are also wrinkled and contain orange or reddish brown seeds, that are 1–5 mm long.[7]
Taxonomy
It was first described and published by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 'Mant. Pl.' (Mantissa Plantarum) on page 92 in 1767.[8][1]
The specific epithet didymum, refers to the Greek word δίδυμα for 'twin' or 'in pairs',[9] referring to the seed capsule.
Distribution
Lepidium didymum is of uncertain origin,[4] but is often cited as native to South America,[6][5] mainly Argentina , Bolivia, Brazil , Chile , Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.[10] It has been introduced elsewhere as a weed of cultivation. It has naturalised across the globe, from Africa, Europe, Asia, Australasia, North America and South America.[10] In Britain, it had been recorded from the wild by 1778,[4] chiefly in England and the south of Ireland,[11] growing on cultivated and waste ground, in gardens and lawns, by paths and roadsides.
Uses
The leaves of this plant are edible, and have a salty, cress or mustard flavour.[12][13]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Lepidium didymum". The Plant List. http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2337750. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
- ↑ "Coronopus didymus". The Plant List. http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2738076. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
- ↑ (xls) BSBI List 2007, Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, https://bsbi.org/download/3542/, retrieved 2014-10-17
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Online Atlas of the British & Irish flora: Coronopus didymus (Lesser swine cress)". London, U.K.: Biological Records Centre and Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. http://www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas/index.php?q=node/1681. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Clapham, A.R.; Tutin, T.G.; Warburg, E.F. (1981). Excursion Flora of the British Isles (Third ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521232902.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Stace, C. A. (2010). New Flora of the British Isles (Third ed.). Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521707725.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Gaby H. Schmelzer, Gabriella Harriet Schmelzer and Ameenah Gurib-Fakim (Editors) Medicinal Plants, Volume 1, p. 362, at Google Books
- ↑ "Brassicaceae Lepidium didymum L.". ipni.org. http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=286148-1. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ↑ "Botanary: didymum". davesgarden.com. https://davesgarden.com/guides/botanary/go/1847/. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Taxon: Lepidium didymum L.". npgsweb.ars-grin.gov. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=423806. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ↑ "BSBI Distribution maps:Lepidium didymum". London, U.K.: Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. http://bsbi.org/maps?taxonid=2cd4p9h.6y1367#style=N4IgLgpgtgDgNgQ0gOQK5QEYQE4gFwgCMIAvkA. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- ↑ "Lesser Swine Cress, Coronopus didymus, Lepidium didymum". https://www.wildfooduk.com/edible-wild-plants/lesser-swine-cress/.
- ↑ "Swinecress, Wart Cress: Micro Mustards". 25 December 2017. http://www.eattheweeds.com/coronopus-didymussquamatus-smelly-pot-herbs-2/.
Wikidata ☰ Q149609 entry
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