Dittander
Dittander on coastal shingle,
Felixstowe
Flower spikes
4 petals, 4 stamens and one stigma per flower
Lower stem leaves
Upper bract-like leaves
Lepidium latifolium
Brassicaceae
Broad-leaved Pepperwort
July to August
Native on the coast of East Anglia and Kent, and inland on
the English/Welsh border.
A planted alien is naturalised and scattered inland.
See the BSBI distribution map for Dittander
Dittander grows by marine creeks and ditches, and at the
top of estuarine saltmarshes.
It is also naturalised inland on waste ground and by
railways and roads.
It used to be grown as a peppery herb.
It is a native, rhizomatous, greyish, perennial herb,
growing up to 1.5m.
The flowers are in dense spikes.
Individual flowers are 2-3mm with 4 white petals, 4
stamens and a single style with a capitate (broad)
stigma.
The lowest leaves are long-stalked and dock-like and up
to 30cm.
Lower stem leaves are oval/lanceolate, up to 10cm and
shortly stalked.
Upper leaves are sessile, pointed and bract-like, and up
to 2cm.
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Next page: Dodder
Dittander on coastal shingle,
Felixstowe
Flower spikes
4 petals, 4 stamens and one stigma per flower
Lower stem leaves
Upper bract-like leaves
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