Lepidium apetalum aka Pepperweed

Lepidium apetalum is in the mustard family, Brassicaceae. Its home range spans eastern Europe and temperate Asia. Records place it in central Asia, China, Korea, and Japan. They also place it in the Himalayan region. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Kew places it in climates with mild seasons. Plants For A Future also lists northern India, Nepal, and Pakistan.

This small plant lives for one or two years. It grows to about 1 foot (0.3 metres) tall. Its short life sets it apart from long-lived border plants. In the wild, it grows on steppes and roadsides. It also grows in fields and on disturbed ground. Other sites include slopes, ravines, and plains. Records from China cover a wide height range. Sites lie about 1,310 to 15,750 feet (400–4,800 metres) above sea level. Records also note solonetzic soils.

Plants For A Future lists flowers from April through August. Each flower has both male and female organs. Seeds ripen from May to September, while flowers still bloom. The sources give no flower colour or fruit shape. They give no details of stems or leaf shape. They list seed as the means to grow new plants. Plants For A Future suggests sowing straight outdoors in spring. It says seeds should sprout in about three weeks.

Plants For A Future lists sun or part shade as suitable. It says the plant prefers moist soil. It lists sand, loam, and clay as suitable soils. Soil can be mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline. Treat these care notes with care. The source admits it knows little about this species. Its broader growing notes draw on the genus, not trials. It has not confirmed how much British cold this plant tolerates. It gives no hardiness zone. The profile suggests garden beds as a place to grow it.

You can eat young leaves raw or cooked. They have a sharp taste like cress. Plants For A Future scores food use two out of five. It gives use as medicine the same score. Reported herbal uses draw on seeds, leaves, and roots. These include remedies for coughs, asthma, and fluid retention. These records describe past uses, not proof of safe treatment. The source lists no known hazards. That does not mean the plant is safe. It reports no other uses. It gives no facts on specific pests or diseases.