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NAME: Peppercress

SPECIES / FAMILY:  Lepidium Virginicum / Brassicaceae

OTHER COMMON NAME(S):  Poor-Man’s-Pepper, Peppergrass

CONDITIONS: sun- partial shade
 

PARTS:	EDIBLE	TASTE	RAW/COOK	SEASON
All
Shoots
Leaves		pepper	RAW/COOK	Spring-Summer
Buds/Flowers
Fruits
Roots
Seed pod		pepper	RAW/COOK	Spring-Summer
Nuts
Pods
Stalk/Stem
Bark

 

PORTION:  very small

 

COMMENT: Use sparingly for flavor. Seed pod very tiny, but packs a peppery punch.

 

CAUTION: As with any hot or spicy food, eat in moderation. 

 

NUTRITION/MEDICINAL: 

·     Anthelmintic;  Antiasthmatic;  Antiscorbutic;  Antitussive;  Cardiotonic;  Diuretic.
The leaves of wild pepper-grass are nutritious and generally detoxifying, they have been used to treat vitamin C deficiency and diabetes, and to expel intestinal worms[254]. The herb is also diuretic and of benefit in easing rheumatic pain[254]. North American Indians used the bruised fresh plant, or a tea made from the leaves to treat poison ivy rash and scurvy[222]. A poultice of the leaves was applied to the chest in the treatment of croup[222]. The seed is antiasthmatic, antitussive, cardiotonic and diuretic[176]. It is used in the treatment of coughs and asthma with excessive phlegm, oedema, oliguria and liquid accumulation in the thoraco-abdominal cavity[176].A poultice of the bruised roots has been used to draw out blisters[257]. The root is used to treat excess catarrh within the respiratory tract[254].(1)

·     https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-453/garden-cress (Garden Cress is related) 

 

LOOK-A-LIKES:  Other cresses: Shepard’s Purse, Penny Field Cress, Bitter Spring Cress

 

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES: 

 

OTHER USES:

 

SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):

1. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lepidium+virginicum
2. http://www.eattheweeds.com/peppergrass-potent-pipsqueak/
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidium_virginicum
4. http://www.foragingtexas.com/2012/01/peppergrass.html (good photos)
5. http://www.ediblewildfood.com/peppergrass.aspx  (good photos & recipes)
6. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Lepidium_virginicum (good photos)