VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Lepidium latifolium | Perennial Pepperweed 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
NO-ENTRY


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Perennial pepperweed has been used by natives of the Canary Islands for
over 2,000 years.  The roots, leaves, and seeds of perennial pepperweed
have yielded sulphurated essences.  The seeds contain mirosin, and the
leaves contain several sterols and polyphenols.  The leaves of perennial
pepperweed have been used in traditional medicines as a diuretic,
stomach tonic, and for preventing renal lithiasis [18].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Perennial pepperweed is classified as a noxious weed in California,
Montana, North Dakota, Utah, and the Pacific Northwest [16,23,27,29].
It is a serious weed in pastures of California and in meadows and
riparian habitats of the Intermountain region [12,15].  Control is
difficult because of its perennial root system and deep-seated rhizomes
[14,27].  In Australia, continuous topping and/or cultivation was
effective in controlling perennial pepperweed.  Treatment must be done
frequently and the plant must not be allowed to produce seeds if control
is to be successful [12,14].  Periodic mowing and spring burning have
reduced perennial pepperweed density in Utah [14].

There seems to be no inherent dormancy system, such as a hard seedcoat,
present in the seeds of perennial pepperweed; therefore, buried seeds of
perennial pepperweed may not be a prolonged source of reinfestation once
a population is controlled.  However, more research must be done to
determine the fate of deeply buried seeds that do not receive the
diurnal temperature fluctuations that seem to be necessary for
germination [15].

Related categories for Species: Lepidium latifolium | Perennial Pepperweed