Lepidium strictum
Peppergrass
(c) Millie Basden, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lepidium strictum (Peppergrass) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by prostrate habit, prominently net-veined fruits, winged pedicels.
Peppergrass is a native annual found in California's Central and South Coast Ranges, North Coast Ranges, and western Sierra Nevada foothills in disturbed areas, woodlands, and slopes at elevations below 1,700 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces tiny white flowers less than 0.5 millimeters wide in crowded clusters. Growing with ascending or prostrate stems 7 to 17 centimeters tall that branch toward the tip, it spreads several stems from its base. Its basal leaves are 1.5 to 5.6 centimeters long with 2-pinnately divided lobes, while mid-stem leaves have pinnately lobed lanceolate segments. The fruit is a flattened, winged oval 2.5 to 3.3 millimeters wide with prominently net-veined surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; key features are prostrate habit, prominently net-veined fruits, winged pedicels
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed areas, woodland, slopes
Elevation: < 1700 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Orange, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Yolo, Mariposa, San Joaquin, Napa, San Mateo, El Dorado, Monterey, Sacramento, Fresno, Humboldt, Madera, San Bernardino, Tulare, Sutter, Amador, Placer, Stanislaus, Sonoma, Nevada, Santa Clara, Glenn, Lake, Merced, Marin, Kern, San Benito, Mendocino, Solano, Contra Costa, Yuba, Tehama, Shasta
Outside California: to Oregon
Bloom period
Lepidium strictum blooms Apr-Jun.
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 strictum native to California?
Yes. Lepidium strictum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lepidium strictum bloom?
Lepidium strictum blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Lepidium strictum grow?
Lepidium strictum occurs in Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Orange, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa and other counties, at elevations of < 1700 m.
What plant family does Lepidium strictum belong to?
Lepidium strictum is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Lepidium.
What habitat does Lepidium strictum grow in?
Lepidium strictum grows in Uncommon. Disturbed areas, woodland, slopes.
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.