Lepidium didymum

Lepidium didymum, the lesser swine-cress, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae.

Description

A cabbage family herb. It grows 10-70 cm high. It grows for one or two years. It is often a spreading plant lying along the ground. The stems have many branches. The stems are covered with fine long hairs. The stem leaves are divided into leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets vary. The leaves are 2-5 cm long. The leaves are alternate. The plant has a smell like cress when crushed. The flowers are at the end of the plant. The flowers are very small. They may only be 1.5-2 mm across. They have 4 petals. The fruit have 2 rounded sections like two balls close together. These seed pods are 2 mm wide.

Edible Uses

The leaves of this plant are edible, and have a salty, cress or mustard flavour.

Traditional Uses

The leaves have a pungent taste and are used in salads and sandwiches. The plant can be made more edible by extensive boiling.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The plant (part not specified) is credited with antiscorbutic, digestive, expectorant, febrifuge, stimulant and tonic properties. The plant is valued in traditional medicine as a treatment for cancer, gangrene, haemorrhoids, allergies and wounds. A decoction of the whole plant is drunk to treat headache and fevers. A leaf poultice is applied externally to treat headache. Phytochemical screening of the plant showed the presence of flavonoids, saponins and tannins. The bioactive flavonoid chrysoeriol has been isolated. These compounds have free radical-scavenging and antioxidant properties. The sterol beta-sitosterol has been isolated from the petroleum ether extract; it has hypocholesterolaemic activity. The seeds contain erucic acid and glucosinolate. Tests in India have shown wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antipyretic, hypoglycaemic and hepatoprotective activities of the plant.

Known Hazards

Cows may produce off-flavoured milk when they have been fed with grass mixed with Lepidium didymum. It has been suggested that this is caused by the inhibitory actions of benzyl isothiocyanate present in the plant on microbial and/or enzymatic activities inthe rumen of the cows.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows on roadsides, waste areas, fields; near sea level to 1000 m altitude in China. It grows between 1,350-2,800 m in the tropics. In Argentina it grows between sea level and 2,900 m above sea level. It can tolerate salty soils. It often grows near mangroves. It can grow in arid places. Tasmania Herbarium.

Where It Grows

Africa, Antilles, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azores, Bahamas, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Britain, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Chile, China, Congo, Czech Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Falklands, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guiana, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Korea, Madagascar, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, NW India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Slovakia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, St Helena, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Tonga, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Lepidium didymum is a cosmopolitan weed. It has spread from its native range in S. America to much of Europe, N. America and parts of Africa and Asia partly by its seeds being carried by birds and mammals and also by various human activities. In some regions it is considered a serious weed of cultivated land, for example. in wheat, potato, pea, carrot and onion crops in India and in onion crops in Brazil. After germination, Lepidium didymum plants develop rapidly. They often complete their life cycle within a few months. The whole plant has a foetid smell.

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ.

Other Uses

The plant is often found as a weed of disturbed soil. It has been found to tolerate high levels of lead in the soil and to accumulate the metal in its leaves and roots, though mainly in the roots. The plant has excellent potential for mitigating lead from polluted soils and is a promising candidate for use in soil remediation projects

Notes

There are 10 Coronopus species. Now Lepidium didymum.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Anatsingita, Bitter cress, Calachin, Cervellina, Gangly, Hallian, Lesser wart-cress, Mastuerzo, Mestruz, Mintruiz, Mistruiz, Quimpe, Tsingita, Vranozka podvojna

References (38)

• Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 135 (As Coronopus didymus)
• Curtis, W.M., 1956, The Students Flora of Tasmania Vol 1 p 44 (As Coronopus didymus)
• Dashorst, G.R.M., and Jessop, J.P., 1998, Plants of the Adelaide Plains & Hills. Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium. p 68 (As Coronopus didymus)
• Flora of Australia, Volume 8, Lecythidales to Batales, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra (1982) p 283 (As Coronopus didymus)
• Flora of Australia Volume 49, Oceanic Islands 1, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra. (1994) p 139 (As Coronopus didymus)

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