Lepidium acutidens
Net pepper grass
(c) Konshau Duman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Lepidium acutidens (Net pepper grass) is a native California annual in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by net-veined fruits, 4 stamens, no petals.
Net pepper grass is a California native annual found in the northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Central Valley, southwestern California, and Modoc Plateau in alkaline flats, fields, and stream beds at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces small white flowers in delicate clusters. Growing with erect or ascending stems 8 to 30 centimeters tall, it emerges with multiple stems from its base. Its basal leaves are early-deciduous and linear, ranging from 2 to 7 centimeters long, while mid-stem leaves are narrow, sessile, and entire. The distinctive fruit is ovate, 4 to 6 millimeters long with a V-shaped notch and strongly net-veined surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; key features are net-veined fruits, 4 stamens, no petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alkaline flats, fields, stream beds
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Colusa, Merced, Kern, Lassen, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, Los Angeles, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Diego, Yolo, Modoc, Stanislaus, Sonoma, Napa, Orange, San Joaquin, Riverside, Solano, Madera
Outside California: to Oregon, Baja California
Bloom period
Lepidium acutidens blooms Feb-Apr.
How to tell it apart
vs Capsella: Small round-to-oval pods versus distinctive triangular heart-shaped pods.; vs Cotula: Mustard with seed pods and 4 petals versus composite with disk flowers only.; vs Soliva: Mustard with flattened seed pods versus composite with spiny achenes.; vs Thysanocarpus: Fruits stand upright or spread versus hanging downward in Thysanocarpus.; vs Lobularia: Flattened oval pods with 1-2 seeds versus inflated round pods with 2 seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lepidium acutidens native to California?
Yes. Lepidium acutidens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lepidium acutidens bloom?
Lepidium acutidens blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Lepidium acutidens grow?
Lepidium acutidens occurs in Colusa, Merced, Kern, Lassen, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, Los Angeles, Contra Costa and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Lepidium acutidens belong to?
Lepidium acutidens is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Lepidium.
What habitat does Lepidium acutidens grow in?
Lepidium acutidens grows in Alkaline flats, fields, stream beds.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.