Nasturtium (genus)

Nasturtium (genus)
Nasturtium
Nasturtium microphyllum, a watercress, in Hawai'i
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Nasturtium R. Br.
Species

Nasturtium africanum Braun-Blanq.
Nasturtium floridanum (Al-Shehbaz & Rollins) Al-Shehbaz & Price
Nasturtium gambelii (S. Wats.) O.E. Schulz
Nasturtium microphyllum (Boenn.) Rchb.
Nasturtium officinale W.T. Aiton

Nasturtium (play /nəˈstɜr.ʃəm/) is a genus of five plant species in the family Brassicaceae (cabbage family), best known for the edible watercresses Nasturtium microphyllum (Rorippa microphylla) and Nasturtium officinale (R. nasturtium-aquaticum). Nasturtium was previously synonymised with Rorippa, but molecular evidence supports its maintenance as a distinct genus more closely related to Cardamine than to Rorippa sensu stricto (Al-Shehbaz & Price, 1998; Al-Shehbaz, Beilstein & Kellogg, 2006).

These plants are related to garden cress and mustard, noteworthy for a peppery, tangy (pungent) flavor. The name Nasturtium comes from the Latin nasus tortus, meaning "twisted nose", in reference to the effect on the nasal passages of eating the plants. Nasturtium foliage is used as food by the caterpillars of certain Lepidoptera, including Orthonama obstipata (The Gem).

One species, Nasturtium gambelii, is a federally listed endangered species in the United States.

Contents

Nomenclature

The genus Nasturtium should not be confused with the common name Nasturtium, referring to the genus Tropaeolum in the Tropaeolaceae family, which includes the popular garden annual of that name (Tropaeolum majus). Though not related, the leaves of the garden Nasturtium also have a peppery taste.

Species list

One database names 316 species. [1]

  • Nasturtium africanum Syn. Nasturtium mesatlanticum O.E. Schulz
  • Nasturtium floridanum Florida yellowcress
  • Nasturtium gambelii Gambel's yellowcress, or Gambel's watercress
  • Nasturtium microphyllum Water cress, Onerow yellowcress
  • Nasturtium officinale Water cress

References

Sources


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Nasturtium officinale — noun perennial Eurasian cress growing chiefly in springs or running water having fleshy pungent leaves used in salads or as a potherb or garnish; introduced in North America and elsewhere • Syn: ↑common watercress, ↑Rorippa nasturtium aquaticum • …   Useful english dictionary

  • Nasturtium — may refer to: The plant genus Tropaeolum, commonly known as Nasturtium The plant genus Nasturtium, a kind of water cress This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an …   Wikipedia

  • Nasturtium — Nas*tur tium, n. [L. nasturtium, for nasitortium, fr. nasus nose + torquere, tortum, to twist, torture, in allusion to the causing one to make a wry face by its pungent taste. See {Nose} of the face, and {Torture}.] 1. (Bot.) A genus of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nasturtium gambelii — Conservation status Endangered (E …   Wikipedia

  • nasturtium — [nə stʉr′shəm, nastʉr′shəm] n. [L, kind of cress < * nasitortium, lit., nose twist < nasus, NOSE + pp. of torquere, to turn, twist (see TORT): from the pungent odor of the plant] 1. any of a genus (Tropaeolum, family Tropaeolaceae) of… …   English World dictionary

  • nasturtium — /na sterr sheuhm, neuh /, n. any plant of the genus Tropaeolum, cultivated for its showy, usually orange, red, or yellow flowers or for its fruit, which is pickled and used like capers. [1560 70; < L nasturtium, nasturcium a kind of cress, taken… …   Universalium

  • Nasturtium —   Nasturtium …   Wikipedia Español

  • Nasturtium officinale —   Berro …   Wikipedia Español

  • genus Nasturtium — noun aquatic herbs • Syn: ↑Nasturtium • Hypernyms: ↑dilleniid dicot genus • Member Holonyms: ↑Cruciferae, ↑family Cruciferae, ↑Brassicaceae, ↑family Brassicaceae …   Useful english dictionary

  • genus Tropaeolum — noun a tropical American genus of dicotyledonous climbing or diffuse pungent herbs constituting the family Tropaeolaceae • Syn: ↑Tropaeolum • Hypernyms: ↑rosid dicot genus • Member Holonyms: ↑Tropaeolaceae, ↑family Tropaeolaceae, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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