Scientific Name | Lepidium montanum | USDA PLANTS Symbol | LEMO2 |
Common Name | Mountain Pepperweed | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 503381 |
Family | Brassicaceae (Mustard) | SEINet Reference |
Click Here |
Description | Life zones and habitat: Semi-desert, foothills and montane (4500 to 9800 ft.); various soils in woodlands, brushlands, hillsides, washes etc. Plant: Annual, biennial, or perennial, up to 28 inches tall; usually several branched, erect to ascending stems, smooth or with pubescent hairs. Leaves: Basal leaves often forming rosettes; lower leaves once or twice pinnatifid, up to about 3 inches long, lobe margins entire or dentate; upper stem leaves similar or undivided and linear. Inflorescence: Many small white flowers in congested terminal racemes, that become very elongated in fruit; 4 sepals and 4 spatulate petals; flowers 1/3-inch or less across. Bloom Period: May to September. Fruit: Oval to nearly round seed pods less than 0.2 inches long and nearly as wide with a small notch at the tip and a style that sticks out of the notch. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, SW Colorado Wildflowers, SEINet and American Southwest. Note: Highly variable species with potentially many variants but without consensus among the experts. | BONAP Distribution Map![]() Map Color Key |
Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2025
Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains
I try to provide accurate, up-to-date, and relevant information, but cannot guarantee the completeness or accuracy of any information presented on this website. I use authoritative references to insure high standards of accuracy and review and update the information frequently.