Lepidium iberis

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USAC, CECON, Herbario USCG (USAC-USCG)

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GBIF

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Herbarium of the University of Coimbra (COI)

Description

Lepidium iberis is a ANNUAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked. A hot cress-like flavour.

Medicinal Uses

Diuretic Rubefacient. The plant is rubefacient. It is applied externally in the treatment of rheumatism. The seeds are used in the treatment of dropsy. The seeds of the sub-species L. iberis alba are used in Indian medicine. No more details are given.

Distribution

S. Europe to the Himalayas.

Where It Grows

TEMPERATE ASIA: Lebanon, Syria, Turkey EUROPE: Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Latvia, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Algeria (north), Morocco

Cultivation

We have almost no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors at least in the milder parts of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in most soils.