✵This article documents the herb Pepperweed Seed, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, property and flavor, botanical sources—three plant species: (1) Lepidium apetalum Willd., (2) Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl., and (3) Lepidium virginicum L.—along with detailed descriptions of the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these three species; the macroscopic and microscopic features of the herb Pepperweed Seed; its pharmacological actions; medicinal efficacy; and administration guidelines.
Semen Lepidii seu Descurainiae (Pepperweed Seed or Tansy Mustard Seed)
Pinyin Name: Tíng Lì Zǐ
English Name: Pepperweed Seed or Tansy Mustard Seed
Latin Name:Semen Lepidii seu Descurainiae Property and Flavor: cold, pungent, bitter
Brief Introduction:Semen Lepidii seu Descurainiae is the dried, ripe seed of Lepidium apetalum Willd. or Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl. It is used (1) to clear lung heat, relieve cough and dyspnea with excessive phlegm, and (2) to promote diuresis for edema. It is commonly known as Semen Lepidii seu Descurainiae, Pepperweed Seed, Tansy Mustard Seed, or Tíng Lì Zǐ.
Botanical Source:Semen Lepidii seu Descurainiae (Pepperweed Seed or Tansy Mustard Seed) is the dried, ripe seed of Lepidium apetalum Willd. or Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl., both belonging to the genus Lepidium, family Brassicaceae (Cruciferae, mustard family), order Brassicales. It is also known as Pepperweed Seed, Peppergrass Seed, Flixweed Seed, Tansy Mustard Seed, or Tíng Lì Zǐ.
Classical herbal works define Semen Lepidii seu Descurainiae (Pepperweed Seed or Tansy Mustard Seed) as the dried, mature seed of: (1) Lepidium apetalum Willd., (2) Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl., or (3) Lepidium virginicum L. These three commonly used species are described below.
(1) Lepidium apetalum Willd.
Botanical Description:Lepidium apetalum Willd. is commonly known as Tíng Lì or Dù Xīng Cài. It is an annual or biennial herb, growing 5–30 cm tall. The stem is erect or branched from the base and covered with minute white capitate hairs. Basal leaves have petioles 1–2 cm long; leaf blades are narrowly spatulate or oblanceolate, pinnately lobed or deeply parted, 3–5 cm long and 1–1.5 cm wide; the apex is mucronate; the margin is sparsely incised-serrate; the base tapers gradually. Cauline leaves are lanceolate or oblong; middle stem leaves are 1.5–2 cm long and 2–5 mm wide, slightly broad at the base, sessile, appressed to the stem, and sparsely toothed. Uppermost leaves are linear, acute at the apex, and rarely toothed or subentire. Both leaf surfaces are glabrous or sparsely covered with capitate hairs.
Racemes are terminal and elongate up to 5 cm during fruiting; flowers are small and loosely arranged. There are four sepals, subovate, with a white membranous margin and curved white pilose hairs on the outer surface. Petals are absent or reduced to filamentous structures shorter than the sepals. Stamens number two or four and are equal in length. There are four short nectaries. The gynoecium consists of a single pistil; the ovary is ovoid and oblate; the style is absent; the stigma is rounded and oblate.
The silicle is ovoid or elliptic, 2–3 mm long, flattened, with a slightly concave apex; the persistent style is very short; the carpel apex bears a narrow wing; the false septum is less than 1 mm wide. Seeds are elliptic-ovate, smooth, and reddish-brown or tawny (yellowish-brown). Flowering occurs from May to June; fruiting occurs from June to July.
Ecological Environment: This plant is a common field weed, growing on slopes, along ditches and roadsides, and near villages, at elevations of 400–2,000 m above sea level.
Growth Characteristics: It prefers warm, moist, sunny conditions. For cultivation, well-drained, fertile, loose soil on sloping land is optimal.
Characteristics of the Herb: The seed of Lepidium apetalum Willd. is commonly known as Semen Lepidii, Běi Tíng Lì Zǐ ("Northern Pepperweed Seed"), or Kǔ Tíng Lì ("Bitter Pepperweed Seed"). Seeds are oblate-oval, 1–1.5 mm long and 0.5–1 mm wide. The surface is yellowish-brown or reddish-brown, slightly glossy, bearing numerous fine granular protrusions; two longitudinal shallow grooves are visible—one prominent—and one end is blunt while the other tapers to a slightly concave point; the hilum lies within this concavity but is inconspicuous. The herb has a faint odor and a slightly bitter, pungent taste, with marked viscosity.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Cardiotonic effect.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clears lung heat and relieves wheezing; promotes diuresis and reduces edema. Indicated for phlegm obstruction of the lung, wheezing and cough with copious sputum, chest distension and pain, and dysuria.
Administration of Semen Lepidii seu Descurainiae (Tínɡ Lì Zǐ):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Semen Lepidii seu Descurainiae (Tíng Lì Zǐ)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3–9 grams, decocted in a cloth bag; (2) Internally: as a water decoction, 1.5–3 qian (≈4.5–9 grams), or prepared as pills or powder; Externally: wash with water decoction or apply finely ground herb powder as a paste. (3) Internally: as a water decoction, 3–9 grams; or prepared as pills or powder. Externally: apply an appropriate amount of finely ground herb powder as a paste, or wash with water decoction. Raw herbs are preferred for promoting diuresis and reducing edema; stir-fried herbs are preferred for phlegm retention and asthma; honey-fried herbs are preferred for lung-deficiency-type phlegm retention and asthmatic cough.
(2) Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl.
Botanical Description:Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl. is also known as Sisymbrium sophia L. It is commonly called Bō Niáng Hāo or Méi Máo Hāo. An annual or biennial herb, it grows up to 20–80 cm tall. The whole plant is ash-gray (grayish-white). The stem is erect, branched in the upper part, with vertical ridges and densely covered with dendroid pubescence. Leaves are oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 3–7 cm long and 1–4 cm wide, bipinnatisect to tripinnatisect or deeply parted; ultimate lobes are linear or linear-oblong, 2–5 mm long, obtuse at the apex, and entire; both surfaces bear dendroid pubescence. Lower stem leaves have petioles; petioles shorten progressively upward, becoming subsessile.
Racemes are terminal and bear numerous flowers. There are four sepals—striped oblong, obtuse at the apex, approximately 2 mm long, with a membranous margin and branched pubescence on the abaxial surface. Petals are yellow, spatulate, and subequal in length to the sepals. There are six stamens, nearly as long as the petals, with clawed bases. The gynoecium consists of a single pistil; the ovary is cylindrical; the style is short; the stigma is capitate and squamose.
The silique is cylindrical, 2.5–3 cm long, glabrous, slightly recurved, and divergent from the carpophore (fruit stalk); the midvein of the carpel is prominent. Seeds are arranged in a single row per locule; they are small, numerous, oblong, slightly flattened, pale reddish-brown, and bear fine reticulations on the surface; when moistened, they exude a viscous substance. Flowering and fruiting occur from April to July.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on hillsides, fields, and farmlands.
Characteristics of the Herb: The seed of Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl. is commonly known as Semen Descurainiae, Nán Tíng Lì Zǐ ("Southern Pepperweed Seed"), or Tián Tíng Lì ("Sweet Pepperweed Seed"). Seeds are oblong and slightly flattened, 0.8–1.2 mm long and approximately 0.5 mm wide. The surface is yellowish-brown; one end is blunt, the other is slightly concave or truncate; the center is depressed; the hilum lies within this depression. The seed surface exhibits fine reticulated patterns and two longitudinal shallow grooves. The herb has a faint odor and a slightly pungent taste, with mild stickiness.
(3) Lepidium virginicum L.
Botanical Description:Lepidium virginicum L. is also known as Qín Yè Tíng Lì or Dú Xíng Cài. It is an annual or biennial herb, growing up to 20–50 cm tall. The stem is erect and simple, bearing columnar glandular hairs on the surface; the upper part is branched, sparsely pubescent, or nearly glabrous. Leaves are alternate. Basal leaves are petiolate, with petioles 1–1.5 cm long; leaf blades are oblanceolate, 1–5 cm long, pinnately or lyrate-lobed, with lobes of unequal size—ovate or oblong—the base tapering gradually and the margin serrate; both surfaces bear short pubescence. Cauline leaves are shortly petiolate; leaf blades are oblanceolate or linear, 1.5–5 cm long and 2–10 mm wide; the apex is acute; the base tapers gradually.
Racemes are terminal and bear numerous flowers. There are four sepals (calyx lobes), green, oval or elliptic, approximately 1 mm long. There are four petals, white, obovate, equal to or slightly longer than the sepals. Stamens number two or four, subequal in length, approximately 1.5–2 mm long. The gynoecium consists of a single pistil; the ovary is ovoid and flattened, bilocular; the style is inconspicuous; the stigma is capitate.
The silicle is orbicular, 3 mm long and 1–2 mm wide, flattened, with a slightly concave apex; the margin bears a narrow wing; the style is extremely short. Each locule contains one seed: oval, approximately 1 mm long, smooth, reddish-brown, with narrow white wings along the margin. Flowering occurs from April to May; fruiting occurs from June to July.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on roadsides, wastelands, and fields.
✵This article documents the herb Pepperweed Seed, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, property and flavor, botanical sources—three plant species: (1) Lepidium apetalum Willd., (2) Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl., and (3) Lepidium virginicum L.—along with detailed descriptions of the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these three species; the macroscopic and microscopic features of the herb Pepperweed Seed; its pharmacological actions; medicinal efficacy; and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Tíng Lì Zǐ
Botanical Description: Lepidium apetalum Willd. is commonly known as Tíng Lì or Dù Xīng Cài. It is an annual or biennial herb, growing 5–30 cm tall. The stem is erect or branched from the base and covered with minute white capitate hairs. Basal leaves have petioles 1–2 cm long; leaf blades are narrowly spatulate or oblanceolate, pinnately lobed or deeply parted, 3–5 cm long and 1–1.5 cm wide; the apex is mucronate; the margin is sparsely incised-serrate; the base tapers gradually. Cauline leaves are lanceolate or oblong; middle stem leaves are 1.5–2 cm long and 2–5 mm wide, slightly broad at the base, sessile, appressed to the stem, and sparsely toothed. Uppermost leaves are linear, acute at the apex, and rarely toothed or subentire. Both leaf surfaces are glabrous or sparsely covered with capitate hairs.
Characteristics of the Herb: The seed of Lepidium apetalum Willd. is commonly known as Semen Lepidii, Běi Tíng Lì Zǐ ("Northern Pepperweed Seed"), or Kǔ Tíng Lì ("Bitter Pepperweed Seed"). Seeds are oblate-oval, 1–1.5 mm long and 0.5–1 mm wide. The surface is yellowish-brown or reddish-brown, slightly glossy, bearing numerous fine granular protrusions; two longitudinal shallow grooves are visible—one prominent—and one end is blunt while the other tapers to a slightly concave point; the hilum lies within this concavity but is inconspicuous. The herb has a faint odor and a slightly bitter, pungent taste, with marked viscosity.
Botanical Description: Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl. is also known as Sisymbrium sophia L. It is commonly called Bō Niáng Hāo or Méi Máo Hāo. An annual or biennial herb, it grows up to 20–80 cm tall. The whole plant is ash-gray (grayish-white). The stem is erect, branched in the upper part, with vertical ridges and densely covered with dendroid pubescence. Leaves are oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 3–7 cm long and 1–4 cm wide, bipinnatisect to tripinnatisect or deeply parted; ultimate lobes are linear or linear-oblong, 2–5 mm long, obtuse at the apex, and entire; both surfaces bear dendroid pubescence. Lower stem leaves have petioles; petioles shorten progressively upward, becoming subsessile.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on hillsides, fields, and farmlands.
Botanical Description: Lepidium virginicum L. is also known as Qín Yè Tíng Lì or Dú Xíng Cài. It is an annual or biennial herb, growing up to 20–50 cm tall. The stem is erect and simple, bearing columnar glandular hairs on the surface; the upper part is branched, sparsely pubescent, or nearly glabrous. Leaves are alternate. Basal leaves are petiolate, with petioles 1–1.5 cm long; leaf blades are oblanceolate, 1–5 cm long, pinnately or lyrate-lobed, with lobes of unequal size—ovate or oblong—the base tapering gradually and the margin serrate; both surfaces bear short pubescence. Cauline leaves are shortly petiolate; leaf blades are oblanceolate or linear, 1.5–5 cm long and 2–10 mm wide; the apex is acute; the base tapers gradually.
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