Lepidium draba

Keys to Identification

• A creeping perennial
• Reproduces by seed and creeping roots
• Grows erect from 10 to 18 inches high
• White flowers
• Leaf is 1/2 to 2 inches long with blunt ends.

This information courtesy of the Colorado Natural Areas Program.

Family

Mustard (Brassicaceae)

Other Names

Heart-podded hoary cress, pepperweed, whitetop

USDA Code

CADR

Legal Status

Colorado Noxious Weed List B

Identification

Lifecycle

Perennial

Growth form

Forb

Flower

Numerous white flowers with four petals, give the plant a white, flat-topped appearance. May-June.

Seeds/Fruit

Seed capsules are heart shaped, and contain two reddish-brown seeds.

Leaves

Leaves are alternate, 1.6-4 in long, blue green, and lance-shaped. Lower leaves are stalked, while the upper leaves have two lobes clasping the stem.

Stems

Mature hoary cress plants are up to two ft tall with erect stems.

Roots

Roots are rhizomatous and usually occur at depth of 29-32 inches, but have been recorded to penetrate to a depth of 30 ft in the Pacific Northwest (FEIS 1998).

Seedling

No information available.

Similar Species

Exotics

Two other closely related species Cardaria pubescens and Cardaria chalapa are designated as noxious weeds in some states (Sheley and Stivers 1999).

Natives

None known.

Impacts

Agricultural

Hoary cress is generally considered unpalatable to livestock.

Ecological

Hoary cress is invading rangelands throughout North America. It is a highly competitive weed once it becomes established. Hoary cress spreads primarily by extremely persistent roots and will eventually eliminate desirable vegetation and become a monoculture.

Habitat and Distribution

General requirements

Hoary cress is typically found on generally open, unshaded, disturbed ground. Hoary cress grows well on alkaline soils that are wet in late spring and generally does better in areas with moderate amounts of rainfall. It is widespread in fields, waste places, meadows, pastures, croplands, and along roadsides (FEIS 1998). Hoary cress is commonly found in saltcedar (Tamarix spp.), antelope bitterbrush / rough fescue (Purshia tridentata / Festuca scabrella), antelope bitterbrush / bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp.), and Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) communities (FEIS 1998).

Distribution

It is widespread in the United States except along the southern boundary of the western and south-central states (USDA 1971). In Colorado, hoary cress is commonly found at elevations of 3,500 to 8,500 feet.

Historical

Hoary cress is a weed of Eurasian origin.

Biology/Ecology

Lifecycle

The root system of hoary cress consists of vertical and lateral roots from which new rosettes and flowering shoots arise (Mulligan and Findlay 1974). Plants emerge in very early spring. The first leaves appear aboveground 5 to 6 weeks after planting (Mulligan and Findlay 1974, FEIS 1998). During this period, the first leaves emerge and form a loose rosette (Mulligan and Findlay 1974, FEIS 1998). Stems arise from the center of each rosette in late April (FEIS 1998). Plants flower from May to June, are self-incompatible, and are pollinated by insects. Hoary cress plants set seed by mid-summer (Whitson et al. 1996). If conditions are favorable, a second crop of seeds can be produced in the fall (Sheley and Stivers 1999).

Mode of reproduction

Reproduces both by seeds and vegetatively. Hoary cress spreads vigorously by creeping roots (FEIS 1998). Within three weeks of germination, a seedling root can begin producing buds (FEIS 1998). One plant can eventually result in a large colony and push out other vegetation to form a monoculture.

Seed production

One plant can produce from 1,200-4,800 seeds.

Seed bank

84% of seed produced are viable the first season (Mulligan and Findlay 1974, FEIS 1998). Buried seeds can remain viable for three years in the soil (Sheley and Stivers 1999).

Dispersal

No information available.

References

FEIS – Fire Effects Information System [Online] (1996, September). Prescribed Fire and Fire Effects Research Work Unit, Rocky Mountain Research Station (producer), US Forest Service. Available: www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [1998,March 12]

CSU Cooperative Extension. 1998a. Whitetop. Weeds in Northwest Colorado. Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. Internet 11/11/98. Available: http://www.yampa.com/Routt/CSU/nwcoloweeds.html

CSU Cooperative Extension. 1998b. Whitetop. Colorado State University Cooperative Extension TriRiver Area. Internet 11/11/98. Available: http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/TRA/whtop.html

Mulligan, G.A., and J.N. Findlay. 1974. The biology of Canadian weeds. 3. Cardaria draba, C. chalapensis, and C. pubescens. Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 54: 149-160.

Sheley, R.L. and J. Stivers. 1999. Whitetop. In: Biology and management of noxious rangeland weeds. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis. pg. 401-407.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 1971. Common weeds of the United States. Dover Publications, Inc., New York. 463 p.

Whitson, T.D.(ed.), L.C. Burrill, S.A. Dewey, D.W. Cudney, B.E. Nelson, R.D. Lee, R. Parker. 1996. Hoary cress. Weeds of the West. Western Society of Weed Science, in cooperation with the Western United States Land Grant Universities Cooperative Extension Services, Newark CA. pg. 222.