# Lepidium coronopus

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{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Coronopus squamatus inflorescens (09).jpg
| genus = Lepidium
| species = coronopus
| authority = ([L.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus)) [Al-Shehbaz](/source/Al-Shehbaz)
| synonyms = {{collapsible list|bullets = true
|title=<small>Synonyms</small>
|Carara coronopus <small>(L.) Medik.</small>	
|Cochlearia coronopus <small>L.	</small>
|Cochlearia repens <small>Lam.	</small>
|Cochlearia tenuifolia <small>Salisb.</small>
|Coronopus coadunatus <small>Stokes</small>
|Coronopus coronopus <small>(L.) H.Karst. [Invalid]</small>
|Coronopus cristatus <small>Clairv.	</small>
|Coronopus depressus <small>Moench</small>
|Coronopus procumbens <small>Gilib. ex Ces., Pass. & Gibelli</small>
|Coronopus procumbens <small>Gilib.</small>
|Coronopus ruellii <small>All.	</small>
|Coronopus squamatus <small>(Forssk.) Asch.</small>
|Coronopus squamatus subsp. conradi <small>Muschl.</small>
|Coronopus squamatus subsp. verrucarius <small>Muschl.</small>
|Coronopus verrucarius <small>Muschl. & Thell.	</small>
|Coronopus verrucarius var. procumbens <small>Muschl.</small>
|Coronopus vulgaris <small>Desf.</small>
|Crucifera ruellii <small>E.H.L.Krause	</small>
|Lepidium squamatum <small>Forssk.</small>
|Myagrum coronopus <small>(L.) Crantz</small>
|Nasturtium verrucarium <small>Garsault [Invalid]</small>
|Senebiera coronopus <small>(L.) Cav.</small>
|Senebiera coronopus <small>(L.) Poir.</small>}}
| synonyms_ref = <ref name="Plantlist"/>
}}

'''''Lepidium coronopus''''', ('''swine cress''', '''creeping wart cress''', or '''greater swine cress'''), is a species of flowering plant in the [mustard family](/source/Brassicaceae) which is native to parts of [Africa](/source/Africa), western [Asia](/source/Asia) and [Europe](/source/Europe), growing in shingle banks, wasteland or cultivated fields.

==Description==
thumb|Seed specimens
''Lepidium coronopus'' is a robust herb, grown as an [annual](/source/Annual_plant),<ref name="efloras">{{cite web |title=FNA Vol. 7 Page 572, 578|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250095047 |website=Flora of North America |publisher=efloras.org |access-date=2 December 2017}}</ref> and rarely as a [biennial](/source/Biennial_plant).<ref name=Dickinson>Richard Dickinson and France Royer {{google books|bU8EDQAAQBAJ|Weeds of North America (2014)|page=215}}</ref> It is a low,<ref name=Readers>{{cite book |year=1981 |title=Reader's Digest Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Britain |page=51 |publisher=[Reader's Digest](/source/Reader's_Digest) |isbn=9780276002175}}</ref> to short [prostrate](/source/Prostrate_shrub) plant,<ref name="naturespot">{{cite web|title=Swine-cress - ''Lepidium coronopus''|url=http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/swine-cress|publisher=naturespot.org.uk|access-date=2 December 2017}}</ref> with often several from base,<ref name=North/> stems that sprawl,<ref name=Harrap>Simon Harrap {{google books|rwRpBAAAQBAJ|Harrap's Wild Flowers (2013)|page=131}}</ref> trail or spread,<ref name=Dickinson/> and very rarely ascending.<ref name=North>Flora of North America Editorial Committee {{google books|I_KRof-0pX4C|Flora of North America: Volume 7: Magnoliophyta: Dilleniidae, Part 2 (1993)|page=578}}</ref> It can reach between {{convert|5|–|12|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} tall,<ref name=Readers/> with the more or less hairless,<ref name=Harrap/> and branched distally,<ref name=North/> stems reaching {{convert|5|–|30|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} long.<ref name=Dickinson/><ref name=Harrap/>

It has two types of leaves, basal and cauline (along the stem),<ref name=North/> the basal leaves are rosulate (form a rosette), with a [petiole](/source/petiole_(botany)) (leaf stalk) {{convert|2|–|5|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} long.<ref name=North/> They are [pinnatisect](/source/Pinnation) (having lobes with incisions that extend almost, or up to midrib),<ref name=North/><ref name=Harrap/> the lobes are dark green and strap like.<ref name="naturespot"/><ref name=Dickinson/> The cauline leaves are shortly petiolate,<ref name=North/> or stalkless,<ref name=Dickinson/> they are also pinnatisect,<ref name=North/> or more or less unlobed.<ref name=Harrap/> The leaves are dull blue-green,<ref name=Harrap/> or greyish green.<ref name=Readers/>

Although Swine Cress (''Lepidium coronopus'') is very similar in form to Lesser Swine Cress (''Lepidium didymum'') but the leaves of Lesser Swine cress are [edible](/source/edible).<ref name="wildfood">{{cite web|title=Lesser Swine Cress|url=http://www.wildfooduk.com/hedgerow-food-guide/lesser-swine-cress-hedgerow/|publisher=wildfooduk.com|access-date=2 December 2017|archive-date=3 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903000513/http://www.wildfooduk.com/hedgerow-food-guide/lesser-swine-cress-hedgerow/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Other differences between the two plants include; ''l. didymum'' has 2 stamens while ''L. coronopus'' has 6 and the fruits are very different.<ref name=Turkey>{{cite journal |last1=Yüzbaşıoğlu |first1=Sırrı |last2=Keskin |first2=Mustafa |title=A new record for the flora of Turkey: Lepidium didymum L. (Brassicaceae) |journal=Biological Diversity and Conservation |date=January 2013 |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=46–48 |doi=10.13140/2.1.4460.0003}}</ref>

''Lepidium coronopus'' begins blooming between May and August,<ref name=North/> or between June and September.<ref name=Readers/><ref name="naturespot"/>
The small flowers,<ref name=Harrap/> are about {{convert|0.2|–|0.4|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} wide.<ref name="naturespot"/><ref name="wild">{{cite web |title=''Lepidium coronopus'' Swine-cress |url=http://www.ukwildflowers.com/Web_pages/lepidium_coronopus_swine_cress.htm |publisher=ukwildflowers.com |access-date=2 December 2017}}</ref> They are white,<ref name=North/><ref name="naturespot"/><ref name=Readers/> or purplish,<ref name=Dickinson/> growing in clusters opposite a leaf,<ref name=North/><ref name=Readers/><ref name=Harrap/> on short [racemes](/source/racemes).<ref name=North/><ref name=Dickinson/><ref name="naturespot"/> The [rachis](/source/rachis) is glabrous (hairy).<ref name=North/> The flowers have 4 petals which are obovate to oblong shaped,<ref name=North/> that are longer than the [sepals](/source/sepals),<ref name=Dickinson/><ref name=Harrap/> which are oblong shaped.<ref name=North/>
It has 6 [stamens](/source/stamens),<ref name=Harrap/><ref name=Turkey/><ref name=Linda>Linda H. Beidleman and Eugene N. Kozloff {{google books|1bMwDwAAQBAJ|Plants of the San Francisco Bay Region: Mendocino to Monterey (2003)|page=139}}</ref><!-- also <ref name=North/>--> small [anthers](/source/anthers).<ref name=Harrap/><ref name=North/>

After flowering, it produces fruits (or seed capsules). They are small {{convert|0.3|–|0.47|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} across,<ref name=North/><ref name=Harrap/> [reniform](/source/Reniform_seed) (kidney shaped),<ref name="naturespot"/><ref name=Harrap/> to ovate-cordate shaped.<ref name=North/> They have a wart-like surface,<ref name=Readers/> and irregularly wrinkled,<ref name=Harrap/> or has pointed bumps.<ref name=Linda/>
The fruit only contains 1 or 2 seeds,<ref name=Readers/> the dirty yellowish,<ref name=Atlas>Vít Bojnanský and Agáta Fargašová {{google books|5vd_ZE7UDV8C|Atlas of Seeds and Fruits of Central and East-European Flora: The Carpathian Mountains Region (2007)|page=185}}</ref> seeds are small,<ref name=Readers/> 1.1-1.5 by 1.3-1.7&nbsp;mm,<ref name=North/><ref name=Atlas/> elliptic and flattish,<ref name=Atlas/> and pear-shaped,<ref name=Readers/> or ovate-oblong.<ref name=North/> They are curved but not winged.<ref name=North/>

==Phytochemistry==
The [chemotaxonomy](/source/chemotaxonomy) of the plant was completed in 2008.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Radulović |first1=Niko |last2=Zlatković |first2=Bojan |last3=Skropeta |first3=Danielle |last4=Palić |first4=Radosav |title=Chemotaxonomy of the peppergrass ''Lepidium coronopus'' (L.) Al-Shehbaz (syn. ''Coronopus squamatus'') based on its volatile glucosinolate autolysis products |journal=Biochemical Systematics and Ecology |date=October 2008 |volume=36 |issue=10 |pages=807–811 |doi=10.1016/j.bse.2008.07.006 |url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305197808001105 |access-date=3 December 2017|url-access=subscription }}</ref> It's [chromosome](/source/chromosome) count is 2n = 32.<ref name="efloras"/>

==Taxonomy==
[[File:Coronopus ruellii Sturm29.jpg|thumb|Illustration from ''Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen'' painted by [Johann Georg Sturm](/source/Johann_Georg_Sturm) in 1796]]
It has a few common names including 'creeping wart cress',<ref>John H. Wiersema and Blanca León {{google books|AIrNBQAAQBAJ|World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference, Second Edition (2013)|page=855}}</ref> 'warty swine-cress', which is derived from the distinctive fruits,<ref name="wild"/> 'crowfoot' (it's leaf shape <ref name=Gledhill/>), 'greater swine cress',<ref name=Dickinson/><ref>Arthur Haines {{google books|RKKWVwC_sdoC|New England Wild Flower Society's Flora Novae Angliae: A Manual for the identification of Native and Naturalized higher vascular plants of New England (2011)|page=488}}</ref> and 'swine cress'.<ref name="naturespot"/><ref name=Grin/> The name 'swine cress' comes from its use as a poor quality salad alternative and thought only suitable for eating by pigs.<ref name=Readers/>

It was originally described and published as ''Cochlearia coronopus'' by the Swedish botanist [Carl Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) in his seminal publication '[Species Plantarum](/source/Species_Plantarum)' Vol.2 in 1753, on page 648. Later as the ''Lepidium'' species was formed, [Ihsan Ali Al-Shehbaz](/source/Ihsan_Ali_Al-Shehbaz) then published the plant as ''Lepidium coronopus'' in 'Novon' Vol.14 on page 152 in 2004.<ref name="Plantlist">{{cite web |title=''Lepidium coronopus'' (L.) Al-Shehbaz is an accepted name |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2356176 |website=23 March 2012 |publisher=theplantlist.org |access-date=2 December 2017}}</ref>

The [specific epithet](/source/Botanical_name) ''coronopus'' takes its name from the Greek, as found in [Theophrastus](/source/Theophrastus)' treatise on plants (c. 371 – c. 287 BC, Greek philosopher and author). The name in [Greek](/source/Greek_language) is κορωνοπους, meaning 'crowfoot' (or κορωνηπους ), and revolves around the leaf's shape.<ref name=Gledhill>D. Gledhill {{Google books|NJ6PyhVuecwC|The Names of Plants|page=122}}</ref><ref>Archibald William Smith {{google books|ahNMkgoNJ7IC|A Gardener's Handbook of Plant Names: Their Meanings and Origins|page=319}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==
''Lepidium coronopus'' is [native](/source/native_plant) to [temperate](/source/temperate) areas of Africa, western Asia and Europe.<ref name=Dickinson/><ref name="Grin">{{cite web|title=Taxon: ''Lepidium coronopus'' (L.) Al-Shehbaz|url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=454282|publisher=npgsweb.ars-grin.gov|access-date=2 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="Synopsis">{{cite journal|last1=Al-Shehbaz|first1=Ihsan A.|title=A Synopsis Of The South American Lepidum (Brassicaceae)|journal=Darwiniana|date=2010|volume=48|issue=2|pages=141–167|url=http://www.scielo.org.ar/pdf/darwin/v48n2/v48n2a02.pdf |access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref>

===Range===
It is found in Africa, within [Algeria](/source/Algeria), [Egypt](/source/Egypt), [Libya](/source/Libya), [Morocco](/source/Morocco) and [Tunisia](/source/Tunisia). It is also found in western Asia, within [Armenia](/source/Armenia), [Azerbaijan](/source/Azerbaijan), the [Caucasus](/source/Caucasus), [Dagestan](/source/Dagestan) (in [Russia](/source/Russia)), [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(country)), [Iran](/source/Iran), [Iraq](/source/Iraq), [Israel](/source/Israel), [Jordan](/source/Jordan), [Lebanon](/source/Lebanon), [Syria](/source/Syria) and [Turkey](/source/Turkey). In middle Europe, it is found within [Austria](/source/Austria), [Belgium](/source/Belgium), the [Czech Republic](/source/Czech_Republic), [Germany](/source/Germany), [Hungary](/source/Hungary), the [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands), [Poland](/source/Poland), [Slovakia](/source/Slovakia), [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland) and [Ukraine](/source/Ukraine). In northern Europe, within [Denmark](/source/Denmark), [Finland](/source/Finland), [Ireland](/source/Ireland), [Sweden](/source/Sweden) and the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom).<ref name="Grin"/> In southern [England](/source/England), around the coasts of [Wales](/source/Wales) and on the southern coasts in [Ireland](/source/Ireland), it is common.<ref name="wild"/> In south-eastern Europe, within [Albania](/source/Albania), [Bosnia and Herzegovina](/source/Bosnia_and_Herzegovina), [Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria), [Croatia](/source/Croatia), [Greece](/source/Greece), [Italy](/source/Italy), [Macedonia](/source/North_Macedonia), [Montenegro](/source/Montenegro), [Romania](/source/Romania), [Serbia](/source/Serbia) and [Slovenia](/source/Slovenia). In southwestern Europe within [France](/source/France), [Portugal](/source/Portugal) and [Spain](/source/Spain).<ref name="Grin"/>

It has also widely [naturalised](/source/naturalisation_(biology)) in other places, such as [Norway](/source/Norway) in Europe. In Africa, within the [Azores](/source/Azores), the [Madeira Islands](/source/Madeira_Islands), the [Canary Islands](/source/Canary_Islands) and [South Africa](/source/South_Africa).<ref name="Synopsis"/><ref name="efloras"/> In Australia,<ref name="Synopsis"/><ref name="efloras"/> within the state of [South Australia](/source/South_Australia), [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania), [Victoria](/source/Victoria_(Australia)) and in [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand).<ref name="Grin"/> In America, has widely naturalised in North America, from the provinces of [New Brunswick](/source/New_Brunswick), [Nova Scotia](/source/Nova_Scotia), [Ontario](/source/Ontario) and [Quebec](/source/Quebec) in [Canada](/source/Canada). Also in the American states of [Missouri](/source/Missouri), [New Jersey](/source/New_Jersey), [Alabama](/source/Alabama), [Louisiana](/source/Louisiana), [Tennessee](/source/Tennessee) and [California](/source/California).<ref name="efloras"/><ref name=Dickinson/> Lastly in South America, within [Chile](/source/Chile).<ref name="Synopsis"/><ref name="Grin"/><ref name=North/>

===Habitat===
It is found growing in waste grounds,<ref name=Readers/><ref name="naturespot"/><ref name="wildfood"/> pathways,<ref name="naturespot"/> arable fields,<ref name=Harrap/><ref name="wildfood"/> abandoned fields, pastures, disturbed sites and along roadsides.<ref name="efloras"/><ref name="wildfood"/>
It also likes well trodden places,<ref name=Readers/> or compacted soils,<ref name=Harrap/> such as field gateways,<ref name="naturespot"/> or field entrances.<ref name=Harrap/>

==Uses==
It was previously used as an alternative to [watercress](/source/watercress) (in salads), but it was deemed such poor quality and only suitable for pigs to eat.<ref name=Readers/> It is thought to be slightly tasting of [mustard](/source/Mustard_(condiment)).<ref name="wildfood"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ukflymines.co.uk/Keys/CORONOPUS.php Leaf-miners on Swine-cress (''C. squamatus'') is native and Lesser Swine-cress (''C. didymus'')]

{{Commons category-inline|Lepidium coronopus}}
{{taxonbar|from=Q149924}}

coronopus
Category:Flora of North Africa
Category:Flora of Western Asia
Category:Flora of Europe
Category:Plants described in 1753
Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lepidium coronopus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidium_coronopus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidium_coronopus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.