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June 3, 2012
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Southeastern, New Hampshire
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The seed pods on Field Pennycress are many times bigger than the similar-shaped
pods on Field Pepperweed (Lepidium campestre) and Virginia Pepperweed
(Lepidium virginicum). After I keyed out this plant for identification,
I was still left with several possible mustard genuses. I went through those
possibilities to be sure that I had the correct ID. It would have been easier
had I counted the number of seeds in the seed pods.
- Fruit is a silicle (up to 3 times as long as wide).
- Silicle not inflated.
- Silicle compressed at right angles to the septum. (By the way, I can’s
believe I even know what the words “silicle” and “septum” mean!)
- Leaves not confined to the base of the plant.
- Silicle with four seeds. I did not know this, so I had to key out the genus:
Lepidium and Iberis to confirm that it did not have 2 seeds.
- Flower petals all of similar size.
- Silicle is oval.
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