Coronopus Explained

Coronopus is a synonym for the accepted genus name Lepidium. It was applied to some species of flowering plants in the cabbage and mustard family Brassicaceae known commonly as swinecress or wartcress. These are generally low spreading annual herbaceous plants with many long stems, deeply lobed leaves and small white flowers.^[1] They have a strong scent, smelling like garden cress, Lepidium sativum, when crushed.^[2] Lepidium squamatus may be native to the Mediterranean but Lepidium didymum may be native to South America.^[3] Both species are widespread weedy introduced species in other areas.^[1]

Species include:

• Lepidium didymum - lesser swine cress
• Lepidium squamatus (since 2004, Lepidium coronopus,^[4]) - swine cress

External links

• Jepson Manual Treatment
• USDA Plants Profile

Notes and References

1. Book: Stace, C. A.. Stace, C. A.. 2010. New Flora of the British Isles. Third. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, U.K.. 9780521707725.
2. Book: Blamey. M.. Fitter. R.. Fitter. A. 2003. Wild flowers of Britain and Ireland: The Complete Guide to the British and Irish Flora.. A & C Black. London. 978-1408179505.
3. Web site: Online Atlas of the British & Irish flora: Coronopus didymus (Lesser swine cress) . Biological Records Centre and Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland . London, U.K. . 15 July 2016 .
4. Web site: Lepidium coronopus (L.) Al-Shehbaz is an accepted name. 23 March 2012. theplantlist.org. 2 December 2017.