Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium)

Stem

• Up to 6 ft. tall, semi-woody, waxy and lacks hair (glabrous); many stems can arise from each crown often branched near top; branches arise from leaf axils

Leaves

• Alternate, oval to lance-shaped, mostly 3-12 in. long, 1-3 in. wide, green to gray-green, lack hair and waxy; edges (margins) smooth to toothed and can also be curled; leaf bases DO NOT clasp stem; lower leaves larger than upper leaves

Flower

• Small and white with 4 petals; arranged in dense clusters at the tips of stems

• Seed pods are round, flattened, less than 0.1 in. diameter, usually covered with hairs; each has 2 chambers, each with 1 seed

Root

• Creeping root system

Other

• Grows best on moist sites; often found in floodplains, pastures, meadows, hay fields and along waterways; known to occur in all Nevada counties

• Perennial; reproduces by roots and seed

• Also known as tall whitetop

Control

• Mowing, digging, tillage, burning and grazing established stands are NOT effective

• Apply metsulfuron or chlorsulfuron to actively growing plants through early-bloom; imazapic from full-bloom until plants become necrotic; 2,4-D and glyphosate at bud to flower can be effective if repeated for several years