Hoary Cress - introduced (*Lepidium drabra)

Family: Brassicaceae (Cabbage family).

Other names: Cardaria drabra

Occurrence: Widespread. It may be locally abundant along roadsides.

Identification:

• it is a leafy plant usually to about half a metre or less
• the white flowers have four petals and are in a flat-topped cluster at the end of the stem
• the leaves are not toothed
• the fruit are small and heart-shaped.

Hoary Cress is a proclaimed noxious weed and is Regionally Restricted in central Victoria. It is spread from root fragments, contaminated soil, and possibly by birds.

Hoary Cress. R: Whole (above-ground) plant. Below L: Leaves. Centre: Flowers from above. Andrew St, Castlemaine.


2. Leaves. 3. Flowers from above. Andrew St, Castlemaine.

4. Plant in bud. Victoria Gully. 5. Hoary Cress growing along a roadside verge, previously sprayed with herbicide. Neereman.