An official website of the state of Utah.

Official Utah websites use utah.gov in the browser's address bar.
A Utah.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the state of Utah.

Be careful when sharing sensitive information.
Share sensitive information only on secure official Utah.gov websites.

Field Guide


Huber's Pepperplant

Huber's Pepperplant (Lepidium huberi)
(Tap or click to view all images.)
Photo by John Gaskin; John Gaskin; John Gaskin

Lepidium huberi

NatureServe conservation status

Global (G-rank): G2
State (S-rank): S1S2

Utah Wildlife Action Plan status

  • SGCN

External links


General information

Lepidium huberi is a woody subshrub found in Uintah County, Utah. It grows in sand or silty sands from the Jurassic Navajo formation (Glen Canyon), Triassic Shinarump (Gartra) member of the Chinle and Moenkopi formations, and Park City and Weber sandstone formations of the Uinta Mountains. It grows among sagebrush, snowberry, mountain mahogany, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, and spruce-fir communities around 7,300 to 9,700 feet elevation. Lepidium huberi, commonly named Huber's Pepperplant, might be recognized by silicles 2.3-2.6 mm long and 1.8-2.2 mm wide or it being woody well above the base. 

Description

Lepidium huberi is a woody subshrub found in Uintah County, Utah. It grows in sand or silty sands from the Jurassic Navajo formation (Glen Canyon), Triassic Shinarump (Gartra) member of the Chinle and Moenkopi formations, and Park City and Weber sandstone formations of the Uinta Mountains. It grows among sagebrush, snowberry, mountain mahogany, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, and spruce-fir communities around 7,300 to 9,700 feet elevation. Lepidium huberi, commonly named Huber's Pepperplant, might be recognized by silicles 2.3-2.6 mm long and 1.8-2.2 mm wide or it being woody well above the base. 

Phenology

Flowers June-August.

Diagnostic characteristics

Lepidium huberi can be identified by it being woody well above the base, deeply lobed lower cauline leaves, and silicles 2.3-2.6 mm long and 1.8-2.2 mm wide. 

Species range

On the south side of the Uinta Mountains and the East Tavaputs Plateau (Holmgren et al. 2005; Welsh et al. 2008).

Threats or limiting factors

Threats include habitat degreation from invasive species (Bromus tectorum), recreation, drought, and loss of habitat.

Taxonomy

No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies