Lepidium ramosissimum
Manybranched pepperweed
(c) Syd Cannings, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lepidium ramosissimum (Manybranched pepperweed) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by biennial habit, curved club-shaped rachis hairs, 2 stamens.
Manybranched pepperweed is a California native biennial found in southern Gabilan Range and Peninsular Range in roadsides and alkaline soils at elevations below 2,900 meters. Flowering from March to September, this plant produces small white flowers in elongated clusters with petals rarely exceeding one millimeter wide. Growing with erect, many-branched stems reaching 15 to 70 centimeters tall, it develops a puberulent (softly hairy) structure with multiple branches emerging toward the upper portions of the plant. Its leaves show interesting variation, with basal leaves being oblanceolate and pinnately lobed, while mid-stem leaves become shorter and more dentate, and upper stem leaves transform into narrow, entire linear forms. The fruit is a small elliptic structure measuring 2.2 to 3.2 millimeters wide with a subtle wing-like tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; key features are biennial habit, curved club-shaped rachis hairs, 2 stamens
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadsides, alkaline soils
Elevation: < 2900 m
Outside California: widespread North America
Bloom period
Lepidium ramosissimum blooms Mar-Sep.
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 ramosissimum native to California?
Yes. Lepidium ramosissimum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lepidium ramosissimum bloom?
Lepidium ramosissimum blooms Mar-Sep.
What plant family does Lepidium ramosissimum belong to?
Lepidium ramosissimum is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Lepidium.
What habitat does Lepidium ramosissimum grow in?
Lepidium ramosissimum grows in Roadsides, alkaline soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.