Lepidium coronopus

File:Lepidium coronopus MHNT.BOT.2011.3.84.jpg

Lepidium coronopus is a robust herb, grown as an annual,{{cite web |title=FNA Vol. 7 Page 572, 578|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250095047 |website=Flora of North America |publisher=efloras.org |access-date=2 December 2017}} and rarely as a biennial.Richard Dickinson and France Royer {{google books|bU8EDQAAQBAJ|Weeds of North America (2014)|page=215}} It is a low,{{cite book |year=1981 |title=Reader's Digest Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Britain |page=51 |publisher=Reader's Digest |isbn=9780276002175}} to short prostrate plant,{{cite web|title=Swine-cress - Lepidium coronopus|url=http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/swine-cress|publisher=naturespot.org.uk|access-date=2 December 2017}} with often several from base, stems that sprawl,Simon Harrap {{google books|rwRpBAAAQBAJ|Harrap's Wild Flowers (2013)|page=131}} trail or spread, and very rarely ascending.Flora of North America Editorial Committee {{google books|I_KRof-0pX4C|Flora of North America: Volume 7: Magnoliophyta: Dilleniidae, Part 2 (1993)|page=578}} It can reach between {{convert|5|–|12|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} tall, with the more or less hairless, and branched distally, stems reaching {{convert|5|–|30|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} long.

It has two types of leaves, basal and cauline (along the stem), the basal leaves are rosulate (form a rosette), with a petiole (leaf stalk) {{convert|2|–|5|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} long. They are pinnatisect (having lobes with incisions that extend almost, or up to midrib), the lobes are dark green and strap like. The cauline leaves are shortly petiolate, or stalkless, they are also pinnatisect, or more or less unlobed. The leaves are dull blue-green, or greyish green.

Although Swine Cress (Lepidium coronopus) is very similar in form to Lesser Swine Cress (Lepidium didymum) but the leaves of Lesser Swine cress are edible.{{cite web |title=Lesser Swine Cress|url=http://www.wildfooduk.com/hedgerow-food-guide/lesser-swine-cress-hedgerow/|publisher=wildfooduk.com|access-date=2 December 2017}} Other differences between the two plants include; l. didymum has 2 stamens while L. coronopus has 6 and the fruits are very different.{{cite journal |last1=Yüzbaşıoğlu |first1=Sırrı |last2=Keskin |first2=Mustafa |title=A new record for the flora of Turkey: Lepidium didymum L. (Brassicaceae) |journal=Biological Diversity and Conservation |date=January 2013 |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=46–48 |doi=10.13140/2.1.4460.0003}}

Lepidium coronopus begins blooming between May and August, or between June and September.

The small flowers, are about {{convert|0.2|–|0.4|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} wide.{{cite web |title=Lepidium coronopus Swine-cress |url=http://www.ukwildflowers.com/Web_pages/lepidium_coronopus_swine_cress.htm |publisher=ukwildflowers.com |access-date=2 December 2017}} They are white, or purplish, growing in clusters opposite a leaf, on short racemes. The rachis is glabrous (hairy). The flowers have 4 petals which are obovate to oblong shaped, that are longer than the sepals, which are oblong shaped.

It has 6 stamens,Linda H. Beidleman and Eugene N. Kozloff {{google books|1bMwDwAAQBAJ|Plants of the San Francisco Bay Region: Mendocino to Monterey (2003)|page=139}} small anthers.

After flowering, it produces fruits (or seed capsules). They are small {{convert|0.3|–|0.47|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} across, reniform (kidney shaped), to ovate-cordate shaped. They have a wart-like surface, and irregularly wrinkled, or has pointed bumps.

The fruit only contains 1 or 2 seeds, the dirty yellowish,Vít Bojnanský and Agáta Fargašová {{google books|5vd_ZE7UDV8C|Atlas of Seeds and Fruits of Central and East-European Flora: The Carpathian Mountains Region (2007)|page=185}} seeds are small, 1.1-1.5 by 1.3-1.7 mm, elliptic and flattish, and pear-shaped, or ovate-oblong. They are curved but not winged.

The chemotaxonomy of the plant was completed in 2008.{{cite journal |last1=Radulović |first1=Niko |last2=Zlatković |first2=Bojan |last3=Skropeta |first3=Danielle |last4=Palić |first4=Radosav |title=Chemotaxonomy of the peppergrass Lepidium coronopus (L.) Al-Shehbaz (syn. Coronopus squamatus) based on its volatile glucosinolate autolysis products |journal=Biochemical Systematics and Ecology |date=October 2008 |volume=36 |issue=10 |pages=807–811 |doi=10.1016/j.bse.2008.07.006 |url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305197808001105 |access-date=3 December 2017|url-access=subscription }} It's chromosome count is 2n = 32.

File:Coronopus ruellii Sturm29.jpg in 1796]]

It has a few common names including 'creeping wart cress',John H. Wiersema and Blanca León {{google books|AIrNBQAAQBAJ|World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference, Second Edition (2013)|page=855}} 'warty swine-cress', which is derived from the distinctive fruits, 'crowfoot' (it's leaf shape ), 'greater swine cress',Arthur Haines {{google books|RKKWVwC_sdoC|New England Wild Flower Society's Flora Novae Angliae: A Manual for the identification of Native and Naturalized higher vascular plants of New England (2011)|page=488}} and 'swine cress'. The name 'swine cress' comes from its use as a poor quality salad alternative and thought only suitable for eating by pigs.

It was originally described and published as Cochlearia coronopus by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal publication 'Species Plantarum' Vol.2 in 1753, on page 648. Later as the Lepidium species was formed, Ihsan Ali Al-Shehbaz then published the plant as Lepidium coronopus in 'Novon' Vol.14 on page 152 in 2004.{{cite web |title=Lepidium coronopus (L.) Al-Shehbaz is an accepted name |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2356176 |website=23 March 2012 |publisher=theplantlist.org |access-date=2 December 2017}}

The specific epithet coronopus takes its name from the Greek, as found in Theophrastus' treatise on plants (c. 371 – c. 287 BC, Greek philosopher and author). The name in Greek is κορωνοπους, meaning 'crowfoot' (or κορωνηπους ), and revolves around the leaf's shape.D. Gledhill {{Google books|NJ6PyhVuecwC|The Names of Plants|page=122}}Archibald William Smith {{google books|ahNMkgoNJ7IC|A Gardener's Handbook of Plant Names: Their Meanings and Origins|page=319}}

Lepidium coronopus is native to temperate areas of Africa, western Asia and Europe.{{cite web|title=Taxon: Lepidium coronopus (L.) Al-Shehbaz|url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=454282|publisher=npgsweb.ars-grin.gov|access-date=2 December 2017}}{{cite journal|last1=Al-Shehbaz|first1=Ihsan A.|title=A Synopsis Of The South American Lepidum (Brassicaceae)|journal=Darwiniana|date=2010|volume=48|issue=2|pages=141–167|url=http://www.scielo.org.ar/pdf/darwin/v48n2/v48n2a02.pdf |access-date=5 December 2017}}

It is found in Africa, within Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. It is also found in western Asia, within Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Caucasus, Dagestan (in Russia), Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. In middle Europe, it is found within Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland and Ukraine. In northern Europe, within Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In southern England, around the coasts of Wales and on the southern coasts in Ireland, it is common. In south-eastern Europe, within Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia. In southwestern Europe within France, Portugal and Spain.

It has also widely naturalised in other places, such as Norway in Europe. In Africa, within the Azores, the Madeira Islands, the Canary Islands and South Africa. In Australia, within the state of South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and in New Zealand. In America, has widely naturalised in North America, from the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec in Canada. Also in the American states of Missouri, New Jersey, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee and California. Lastly in South America, within Chile.

It is found growing in waste grounds, pathways, arable fields, abandoned fields, pastures, disturbed sites and along roadsides.

It also likes well trodden places, or compacted soils, such as field gateways, or field entrances.

It was previously used as an alternative to watercress (in salads), but it was deemed such poor quality and only suitable for pigs to eat. It is thought to be slightly tasting of mustard.

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.ukflymines.co.uk/Keys/CORONOPUS.php Leaf-miners on Swine-cress (C. squamatus) is native and Lesser Swine-cress (C. didymus)]

{{Commons category-inline|Lepidium coronopus}}

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coronopus

Category:Flora of North Africa

Category:Flora of Western Asia

Category:Flora of Europe

Category:Plants described in 1753