Lepidium oxycarpum
Forked pepperweed
(c) Timothy McNitt, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lepidium oxycarpum (Forked pepperweed) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by no petals, 4 stamens, V-shaped fruit notch.
Forked pepperweed is a California native annual found in the Central Valley and Central Western bioregions in fields, vernal pool margins, and alkaline flats at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces small white flowers in elongated clusters. Growing with erect to decumbent stems 4 to 15 centimeters tall, it branches several times from the base and has delicate, linear leaves. Its basal leaves are early-deciduous, measuring 1.5 to 5 centimeters long with 2 to 5 pairs of narrow linear lobes. The fruit is a distinctive winged ovate pod, 2.4 to 3.6 millimeters long with a V-shaped notch at the tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; key features are no petals, 4 stamens, V-shaped fruit notch
Habitat and range
Habitat: Fields, vernal pool margins, alkaline flats
Elevation: < 400 m
California counties: Alameda, Fresno, Marin, San Benito, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Monterey, Orange, Napa, Solano, Yolo, Merced, Stanislaus, Humboldt, Kern
Bloom period
Lepidium oxycarpum blooms Mar-May.
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 oxycarpum native to California?
Yes. Lepidium oxycarpum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lepidium oxycarpum bloom?
Lepidium oxycarpum blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Lepidium oxycarpum grow?
Lepidium oxycarpum occurs in Alameda, Fresno, Marin, San Benito, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, San Mateo and other counties, at elevations of < 400 m.
What plant family does Lepidium oxycarpum belong to?
Lepidium oxycarpum is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Lepidium.
What habitat does Lepidium oxycarpum grow in?
Lepidium oxycarpum grows in Fields, vernal pool margins, alkaline flats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.